Homily Twenty-Sixth Saturday of Ordinary Time (Job 42:1-17) “Do I question God?”
Homily Twenty-Sixth Saturday of Ordinary Time (Job 42:1-17) “Do I question God?”
Many times, I have heard people confess that they have questioned the God’s plan for their life. Perhaps they have even grown mad at God. We are all very uncomfortable when we have those feelings. We might even consider it a sin. But is it?
A lot of faithful people have talked about having the “patience of Job.” What does this mean? What many believe is that Job never questioned God nor doubted God’s wisdom. What it also means is that Job never complained about the misfortune he had to endure. He lost his wealth, health and family but never believed God was acting unfairly.
We read the climax of the Book of Job today. Job repents in sack cloth and ashes. What does he have to repent of if he never doubted, if never questioned his lot in life? The fact is that he did complain against God. Job wanted to understand what was happening. He wanted an explanation. How could he, a just man, suffer so?
How does God justify himself? God reminds Job that he is all powerful. God made everything. God knows all. Some things cannot be explained in terms humans can understand.
Job is reassured by his conversation with God. He repents for the criticism he has directed toward God. God rewards Job in the end. Why?
Probably it is because Job never gave up on his dialogue with God. Job continued to speak to God through the worst of his suffering. And that is a lesson for all of us. The key to spiritual consolation is that we never stop conversing with God.
Job found out that God was not ignoring him, but God was listening. God hears our prayers. God always is attentive. We may not understand the mystery of our life. Job teaches us it is all right to ask why? God loves us even more if we do.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I ever get mad at God? Am I ashamed when I am?
- Job would not give up on his relationship with God. How might I benefit from saying hard things to God?
Dear Parishioners,
Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. We usually bless animals on this feast since Francis is the patron of all animals. Unfortunately, this year we will not gather to do this. COVID prevents us from doing this safely.
This does not mean that you can’t bless your four-legged friends, fish, birds, snakes or other pets. They are fulfilling a special mission for us in the last six months. Having pets keeps many people sane.
Take a moment tomorrow to pray over your pets asking the will have good health and happiness in the next year. Hopefully, next St. Francis day we can bring them together again.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark