Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 - Wednesday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Job 9:1-12, 14-16 and Luke 9:57-62]He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning. Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him; should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?" How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him! Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me. If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words. [Job]
SEPTEMBER 30 ST. JEROME
It has been noted by more than one commentator that one of Job's greatest sufferings was his friends who try to get him to admit that he has done something to deserve what happened to him. That was and still is one of the common responses to suffering. Every time there is a disaster in this country, more than one prominent evangelist will speak up and claim that the resulting suffering is punishment from God for sin. Job continually rejects the suggestions of his "friends" and asserts the truth of his integrity. It is this truth that sustains him throughout the course of his suffering.
In today's passage, Job speaks to the problem of dialogue with God. He says something that I hear often in counseling: "He/she won't listen to me." Job's concept of God places God outside human heart-to-heart conversation. God is too great and almighty to pay attention to a mere mortal. As I hear often, "What's the use of praying? God never answers!"
The ultimate question in the entire Book of Job is one that has continually challenged the faith and understanding of humanity: "If God is both almighty and loving, why is there so much suffering, especially by people who don't "deserve" it? Job's steadfast integrity and faith enable him to persevere, and God does restore him to a position even greater than before, but the question of the purpose of suffering will remain unanswered, at least in human terms, as we shall see. Stay tuned! AMEN