Homily – Saturday
of the 26th Week In Ord. Time Year B.
v Job 42:1-3, 5-6,12-17
v Ps 119:66,71,75,91,125,130
v Luke 10:17-24
The Lord Blessed the Latter Days of Job More Than His
Earlier Ones (Job 42:12)
Today we celebrate the Lord of Job and of the 72
disciples. We celebrate victory of Job over trials as well those of the 72 over
demons, in today’s Gospel of Luke. Job’s victory is our victory. The 72’s
victory is our victory. Road to such victories requires, humility, patience,
hope, faith, endurance and the steadfastness of Job, which we saw him display
through throughout his Book, culminating in today’s epilogue, the 42nd
chapter, and the first reading, where God blesses and rewards Job more and more
for his steadfastness and repentance!
In this prose epilogue, our first reading today, Job is
convinced of the love, the sovereignty, the wisdom and the power of God. When
he answers God that, “I know you can do all things, and that no purpose of
yours can be thwarted, who is this that hides counsel without knowledge,
therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for
me which I did not know” ( vv. 1-3), Job is actually confessing his innocence.
In chapter 38:2, Job was judged to have spoken ignorantly about God, yet he is
judged here in this last chapter, in this epilogue to have spoken exemplarily
and correctly about God. How many times have we not spoken ignorantly about
events surroundings our lives, without facts? Are we also ready to learn, and
to speak correctly, now?
In this final episode, Job affirms his innocence, yet,
God is the source of all things, life and death. If we die we die in Christ, if
we live we live in Christ, as St. Paul would later affirm (Romans 14:8). His
friends who stressed so quickly on retributive justice were wrong and fell
short of divine wisdom, as some of our contemporary friends would. His wife who
also had encourage Job to curse God and die in Job 2:10, may have been mistaken
as well. However, there is still a window of hope and mercy for all from a
merciful, loving and forgiving God, through the prayers, repentance and
intercession of Job (vv.5-6).
Job prays, “but now my eyes sees you, therefore I despise
myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (like ancient prophets, Isaiah 20 and
others). Job’s repentance is also a spring board for the Lord blessings him,
his latter days than before. His fortunes is restored (as always been in the
prayers and prophecy of Zephaniah and others). Job is also given back the
blessings of having family, and friends, each whom brought him a gold ring and
a piece of money (vv.12ff). He is blessed with many children, 7 sons and 3
beautiful daughters, with significant names: Jemimah (Dove), Keziah (Cinnamon)
and Keren- Happauch (Horn of Eyeshadow). Job also lived about 140 years,
saw his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What a joyful ending!
Job’s joyful and happy ending anticipates the joyful
return of the 72 in today’s Gospel (Luke 10:17-24). The demons subjected to them because the
healed in Christ name, they kept the faith, the rules, the ethics of Christ’s
mission, serving with humility, missioning with modesty, carrying no sacks, no
tunics, and no sandals but bearing peace, love, mercy, forgiveness, patient, compassion, generosity ( Luke
10:1-12).
Job’s patience, endurance, steadfastness and prayers are rewarding
at the end. The humble mission of the 72, in the name of Christ pays off at the
end. Like job, their names are written in heaven. They are rewarded a hundred
fold as Job’s latter days became more blessed than the earlier ones.
Job in particular challenges us, through the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary to patience- endurance,
to love, peace, hope, and steadfastness, trust in God’s power, tender care,
divine mercy, faithfulness, blessings, and restoration of fortunes of those who
persevere to the end!
1.
Do we preserver like Job or like the
72 disciples of today’s Gospel?
2.
What do we make of the epilogue the
final chapter 42 of Job?
3.
What is the significance of Job’s
daughter’s names for us (Dove, Cinnamon, and Horn of Eyeshadows?).
