GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 1ST OCTOBER 2016
SATURDAY OF THE 26TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF SAINT THERESA OF THE CHILD JESUS, VIRGIN, DOCTOR)
1ST READING: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
PSALM: Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
GOSPEL: Luke 10:17-24
THEME: HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH!
“Why me? Why me? Why me?” Three times she asked this question. I had no answer. I just sat helplessly, gazing at her with tears in my own eyes. Her marriage had failed and now, her only son, a boy of about 10years, got drowned in a swimming pool. I thought of Job and wondered why sometimes unpleasant things happen to innocent people – the mystery of suffering.
The trials of Job was premised by two statements of Satan:
1. “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 1:9-11).
2. “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5).
To curse God to the face is to lose faith in him. The agenda of Satan was therefore to do anything and everything so that Job may lose faith in God. However, the trials that came only revealed the fidelity of Job. In our First Reading for today, Job, having passed the test, is divinely restored: “The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12).
Trials can either rob faith or reveal faithfulness. There are some who have stopped praying because something went wrong in their lives and others have made themselves atheists on account of an inexplicable challenge that came their way. Would you also lose your faith in God when trials come?
Just as a tea bag shows its strength in a cup of hot water, faith must rise up to the test when we find ourselves in difficulties. Faith like a magnet attracts the favour of God. It is the key to divine restoration. Don’t throw it away!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in you have I put my trust and I know you will never disappoint me. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).