Keeping Faith

Oct 3: Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s readings from Job and the Psalms are about holding onto faith in God, despite adversity in hardship. In the Gospel, Jesus wants His followers to hold onto faith even in the face of faithlessness. We must take a long view with these things.

Reading 1

Jb 19:21-27

Job said: Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has struck me! Why do you hound me as though you were divine, and insatiably prey upon me?

Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing.

That middle line about Job wanting his words written down sounds kinda funny—because it is. Job isn’t a historical book, it’s a fable, not meant to be taken literally. Job, the character, is saying, “This next part is so important, you should write it down,” which, of course, the author of Job did.

Despite everything that’s happened, despite his friends telling him that he deserves everything because of some sin, Job holds onto his faith that God will vindicate him.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 27:7-8a, 8B-9abc, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The psalmist, like Job, holds out hope that God will rescue him.

The “land of the living” is a curious phrase in context. At one point in history, this would simply have meant “while I’m still alive.” But later Jews and Christians came to believe in the resurrection, and that there would be a life after death when we will see God “face to face,” as it were.

Alleluia

Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus says this right after John the Baptist is arrested, because there is an order to God’s plan. It’s only when his cousin’s part is completed that Jesus can begin his public ministry.

Gospel

Lk 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

As discussed on Tuesday, Jesus doesn’t punish the non-believers. He wants His disciples to go out like lambs among wolves, preaching His peace and mercy. They’re not weighed down by the things of this world; they carry Jesus’ burden, which is light.

Our sins and neglect can weigh us down with guilt. But Jesus offers us limitless mercy, so that we can carry on.