The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100118.cfm)
reminds me that I
should remain faithful to God, especially despite of problems and challenges.
One
of my favourite stories in the bible is the life of Job. He has such great
faith in God, and a great perspective on life. He knows that everything
he has is from God, and just as we should be thankful and grateful for what
God has given us, so should we be thankful for the opportunity to have
them when God takes them away. We should not hold on to these things,
because God is the owner, not us, and it is up to him until when he will lend
us these things in life. We should not get mad at God when he takes away
someone or something. Job knows that he came into the world with nothing
and he will leave this world with nothing as well. And regardless of what
happens, we should always be faithful to God. In the first reading, he said:
“Naked
I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”
Only
a man of great faith in and love for God can mean this. And this gives us a
different perspective on things. On people. On possessions. It reminds us
that we have nothing when we entered this life. And we
cannot take anything. Anything. So we should make the best use of
these things while we have them, and not be too attached to them.
In
the gospel, we are again told of the importance of being a child, of having
a childlike attitude. Like a child, we should be totally dependent
on God, our Father. Material things should not be a concern to us. We
should just keep our focus on God, and have faith that even if he
does not give us everything we want, he has the best intentions in his heart,
and will give us what we need, what will be good for us. This is the attitude
of Job.
In
our lives, it is easy to be distracted. There are a lot of things people hold
on to right now, especially with the age of technology. We tend to
make life complicated. We have mobile devices. We have all these kinds of
gadgets. We have all these attachments to things of the world – people,
possessions, places, etc. We are reminded to be like Job, to thank God not only
for giving us these things, but even if when he takes it away. We should
remember that we were born naked and no matter how much we have in this world,
we cannot bring any of these things when we die, so instead of being busy
accumulating all the things of the world, we are asked to have a childlike
faith and prepare for eternity with God, knowing that he will provide us what
we need in this world.
What
is my greatest possession? What will I feel if someone steals it, or if I lose
it? Do I realize that God can give anything, and can take away anything
anytime? Do I remember that life on earth is temporary? Do I realize that I
cannot bring anything when I die? Do I prepare for eternity?
May
we always remember that everything came from God, and can be taken away
anytime. And may we always be faithful to God no matter what situation we are
in.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another week. Thank you for the inspiring reminder. Thank you for
your faithful servant Job. Thank you for giving us an example of how to live a
life fully surrendered to you. Lord, sorry for the times I don't act and live like
Job. Sorry for being too attached on material things. Sorry for being too
concerned with them. Sorry for losing sight on you. Lord, help me focus on you.
Help me stay away from distractions in life. Help me put things in perspective.
Help me praise and glorify you whatever situation I may be in. May I live my
life preparing for eternity and not focused on accumulating worldly
possessions, because I know that as I came to this world with nothing, so will
I leave this world. Help me use your gifts to bless others as well. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
October 1, 2018
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of
the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 455
Lectionary: 455
Reading 1 JB 1:6-22
One
day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person."
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person."
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 17:1BCD,
2-3, 6-7
R.
(6) Incline your ear to me and hear
my word.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Alleluia MK 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 9:46-50
An
argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
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