Word to the Wise
Monday, October 2, 2006 - THE GUARDIAN ANGELS
[Job 1:6-22 and Matthew 18:1-5, 10]"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!"
These words reflect Job's response to the sudden and catastrophic loss of all that was materially and personally precious to him. But it is not the end of his suffering. He himself is to be stricken with a loathsome disease. Yet, that is not the end of his suffering. What may have been his worst suffering came in the form of his friends who insisted on the traditional interpretation of suffering as a punishment for sin. Job MUST have done something wrong, otherwise he would not be suffering. Job is convinced that he has done nothing wrong. Nothing in his story suggests otherwise. The issue is not about the wager between God and the Devil. Job knows nothing of that. The issue is about suffering that is NOT the result of human choice or error. But the Book of Job has come to be seen as a way of understanding all suffering. How many of us are able to respond, even initially, to catastrophe as Job does above? Whether it be a hurricane or leukemia or fire or plane crash - do we not all ask, "Why me? Why him or her? Why them?" Do we not seek to find a meaning of some sort? Am I suffering because of my sins? Am I suffering because of someone else's sins? Am I suffering on behalf of someone else? Job's friends are convinced they have the answer. Job is equally convinced they are wrong. But he is unable to explain why he is stricken. He is convinced only that God must know, and when God does answer, the answer is mystery. The wager becomes secondary. Job is restored because of his faith but he never learns why he suffered. Both heroism and savagery arise in times of terrible catastrophe. Few of us know in advance which way will describe us best. At least Job's faith reminds us of one way in which we will make it through. God can wipe away the tears or cry with us. This is the best kind of friend and is ultimately the only response to mysterious suffering: love and compassion. AMEN