Daily Retreat 10/02/08
2008 Oct 2 Thu: The Guardian Angels M
Jb 19: 21-27/ Ps 26(27): 7-8a. 8b-9abc. 13-14/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10
From today’s readings: “ But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives.... I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.... See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.”
Job’s prophecy
As mentioned before, the book of Job must be read in its entirety to understand and contextualize all its parts. Tuesday’s first reading was from chapter Three, which begins after the arrival of his three friends with Job’s lament about his life, but today’s reading is from chapter Nineteen! The readings for yesterday were from chapter Nine of Job, so it’s obvious that many chapters of the book have been skipped.
Basically in those chapters, Job’s friends confront him with various philosophical and theological attempts to explain and understand his suffering, but Job is always able to point out inconsistencies and insufficiencies in the suggested explanations. Today’s reading is part of Job’s reply to his friend Bildad’s second attempt to make sense of Job’s suffering.
This is one of the most crucial passages in the book, but unfortunately, translators and scholars are quite divided on how to render and make sense of it. Many, but not all, of the Church Fathers believed that Job’s words anticipate the clear Christian teaching of the resurrection of the body. Thus St. Jerome, whose feast was celebrated yesterday, wrote, “Job here prophesies the resurrection of the body in such a way that no one has written on this subject in so clear and certain a manner.” For this reason, this text is often used for funerals, even though some modern translations obscure the notion of resurrection.
In any event, the words ring with the unquenchable hope of vindication, so Job’s faith was the foundation for one of the most succinct Christian creeds: I know that my Redeemer lives!
Jb 19: 21-27/ Ps 26(27): 7-8a. 8b-9abc. 13-14/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10
From today’s readings: “ But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives.... I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.... See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.”
Job’s prophecy
As mentioned before, the book of Job must be read in its entirety to understand and contextualize all its parts. Tuesday’s first reading was from chapter Three, which begins after the arrival of his three friends with Job’s lament about his life, but today’s reading is from chapter Nineteen! The readings for yesterday were from chapter Nine of Job, so it’s obvious that many chapters of the book have been skipped.
Basically in those chapters, Job’s friends confront him with various philosophical and theological attempts to explain and understand his suffering, but Job is always able to point out inconsistencies and insufficiencies in the suggested explanations. Today’s reading is part of Job’s reply to his friend Bildad’s second attempt to make sense of Job’s suffering.
This is one of the most crucial passages in the book, but unfortunately, translators and scholars are quite divided on how to render and make sense of it. Many, but not all, of the Church Fathers believed that Job’s words anticipate the clear Christian teaching of the resurrection of the body. Thus St. Jerome, whose feast was celebrated yesterday, wrote, “Job here prophesies the resurrection of the body in such a way that no one has written on this subject in so clear and certain a manner.” For this reason, this text is often used for funerals, even though some modern translations obscure the notion of resurrection.
In any event, the words ring with the unquenchable hope of vindication, so Job’s faith was the foundation for one of the most succinct Christian creeds: I know that my Redeemer lives!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/01/2008
<< Home