The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the feeling we experience when the new light of understanding illuminates some of our questions on the journey.
In the reading from the Book of Job, he is humbled and satisfied.
* [42:2–4] In his final speech, Job quotes God’s own words (see 38:2–3; 40:7).
* [42:5] In 19:25–27 Job had affirmed a hope to “see” (three times) his vindicator. Now he has seen the Lord about whom he had heard so much.
* [42:6] A difficult verse. Some doubt, in view of God’s commendation in v. 7, that Job does in fact express repentance, and alternative translations are often given. Along with v. 5, it describes a change in Job, which the encounter with the Lord has brought about. Dust and ashes: an ambiguous phrase. It can refer to the human condition (cf. Gn 18:27; Jb 30:19) or to Job’s ash heap (2:8). (Job, CHAPTER 42, n.d.)
Psalm 119 praises the glories of God’s Law.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. (Psalms, PSALM 119, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus comments on the return of the seventy.
* [10:18] I have observed Satan fall like lightning: the effect of the mission of the seventy-two is characterized by the Lucan Jesus as a symbolic fall of Satan. As the kingdom of God is gradually being established, evil in all its forms is being defeated; the dominion of Satan over humanity is at an end. (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Rondal Fussell comments that the way that Jesus frames how we rejoice reminds us that there is a greater reward, and that we need to keep that in perspective, even as we do good works in His name.
These days, in a materialistic world where the cultural norm is to reject the eternal reward that Jesus mentions, it is all too easy to embrace a disordered view of what brings joy. As it was for that younger version of me, so too is it for many. What complicates things is that even good deeds can bring about a disordered perspective of joy if the focus is not in the right place.
So, as we turn our attention to those things that make us happy, let us take time to reflect on the greater reward - that like the seventy-two disciples in today’s reading, our eyes too are blessed to see that our names are written in heaven. (Fussell, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The power of the Kingdom of God,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"He also gave the holy apostles power and might even to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and by the laying on of hands to call down from heaven the Holy Spirit on anyone they wanted. He gave them power to bind and to loose people's sins. His words are 'I say to you, whatever you will bind on earth, will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Whatever you will loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.' These are the things we see ourselves possessing. Blessed are our eyes and the eyes of those of all who love him. We have heard his wonderful teaching. He has given us the knowledge of God the Father, and he has shown him to us in his own nature. The things that were by Moses were only types and symbols. Christ has revealed the truth to us. He has taught us that not by blood and smoke, but rather by spiritual sacrifices, we must honor him who is spiritual, immaterial and above all understanding."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 67) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 10:17-24 comments that St. Thérèse of Lisieux spent only nine years as a cloistered nun before her death in 1897 at the age of twenty-four. Yet the witness of her life and the depth of her writings have brought millions of people closer to the Lord. Her influence was so profound that in October 1997, Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church. When she was young, Thérèse could be easily hurt by even the smallest offenses. She also suffered from scrupulosity, a distressing focus on her sin and a fear of offending God. In one of her letters, she described herself as a fragile little bird that places all its hope in Jesus, the divine Eagle. But with childlike trust in the Lord, Thérèse managed to overcome her inner struggles and find peace in Jesus’ embrace.
Like that little bird, we too can find peace and freedom as we learn to live in childlike trust. It’s not always easy, but we can become more aware of God’s power and goodness in our lives. We can respond to our weakness with a renewed trust in God’s strength.
Always remember that you are a child: God’s beloved child. When you choose to be weak in him, that’s when you become strongest of all.
“Jesus, I choose to place all my hope and trust in you today.” (Meditation on Luke 10:17-24, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Job recognizes the power and authority of God. He explains the flavour of the “Gospel of Wealth” that is expressed in the epilogue. Friar Jude reminds us of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux childlike trust in the Love of God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Lay brother Nicolas Herman, known as Brother Lawrence (1611–1691),who lived in a Carmelite monastery outside of Paris in the seventeenth century. He is known to the world for his practical recommendations to pray in little moments throughout the day, which he called “Practice of the Presence.” As Carmen Acevedo Butcher tells in her new translation, Brother Lawrence developed an ongoing awareness of God’s love during decades of work—and prayer—in the monastery kitchen. He disliked the work, but “got used to doing everything” there “for the love of God.” [1]
The first way to develop presence is in living each day with great simplicity.
The second is in great faithfulness to the practice of this presence and to this inner awareness of God in faith, always gently, humbly, and lovingly doing this without giving in to hurry or anxiety.
Taking special care that this inner awareness, no matter how brief, precedes our activities, that it accompanies these activities from time to time, and that we finish all tasks in the same way, we gradually grow the habit. . . .
For those beginning this practice, forming a few words interiorly is helpful, like: “My God, I am all yours,” . . . or “Love, create in me a new heart,” or any other phrases love produces on the spot. . . .
The practice of the presence of God, although a little difficult at first, secretly achieves marvelous effects in the soul, attracting an abundance of God’s graces, and when done faithfully, it imperceptibly leads the soul to this simple awareness, to this loving view of God present everywhere. This is the most sacred, the most robust, the easiest, and the most effective form of prayer. [2] (Rohr, 2022)
We are invited by the Spirit to surrender our anxiety and confusion to childlike trust in the intimate Presence of God.
References
Fussell, R. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/100122.html
Job, CHAPTER 42. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/job/42?1
Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?17
Meditation on Luke 10:17-24. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/01/502847/
Psalms, PSALM 119. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?66
Rohr, R. (2022, October 1). A Spirituality of Imperfection: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-spirituality-of-imperfection-2022-10-01/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct1
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