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     To encounter the Book of Job through the lectionary is, at least for me, a very frustrating experience.  It is like having a painting one knows well described in bits and pieces without a view of the whole painting.  I urge the Beloved Congregation to read the whole book.

     In today's passage, Job is speaking after God's reply to him and the "friends" who have been trying to explain Job's predicament to Job (probably his greatest suffering).  The mystery of suffering remains a mystery, but the early Christian community found, and can continue to find,  inspiration in him because Jesus himself was innocent of any wrongdoing, yet died a terrible death on the cross and was vindicated in the resurrection.  The lectionary omits the passage at the end of the book in which God says that Job has spoken correctly about God and the "friends" did not.  But for the sake of Job, God spares them and commends them to offer sacrifice on behalf of Job.  

     Yes, Job is vindicated by God in the end.  One is tempted to say, "All's well that ends well," and "He lived happily ever after!" but terrible suffering can leave scars that are not only exterior but interior.  Job's "restoration" is abundant in terms of material wealth and family relationships but we are left to wonder how Job remembered his experience.  Job paid the price of integrity.  How many of us are willing to stand fast for what is true and right in the face of loss of health and wealth and the urging of "friends" who try to persuade us to "go along?"  I hope the "tip of the iceberg" which the lectionary has offered, will lead us all to go deeper through the Book of Job!  AMEN