Daily Retreat 10/03/08
2008 Oct 3 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Jb 38: 1. 12-21; 40: 3-5/ Ps 138(139): 1-3. 7-8. 9-10. 13-14ab/ Lk 10: 13-16
From today's readings: "Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You?... Truly You have formed my inmost being - You knit me in my mother's womb..... Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me, rejects the One who sent Me."
Are you God?
As mentioned, the book of Job refuses to merely hazard glib and ultimately unsatisfactory answers to the questions about suffering in life. In fact, when God appears towards the end of the book, rather than answer questions, He poses dozens of new ones! But all of the Almighty’s questions asked of Job can be summarized into one: Are you God?
Of course, if God asked us that same question, you and I could do no better than mumble Job’s same answer: “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You? I put my hand over my mouth!”
What then is the point of God’s questions for Job (and for us)? Do they amount to just a cheap copout, an avoidance of the issue by changing the subject? Job’s innocent suffering raises some profound questions about life - is it wrong to turn to our faith for answers?
No, it’s not at all wrong to plumb our faith in such situations - in fact, it’s the absolute best thing to do! And as we delve deeper into our faith, we’re faced with a crucial (but oft forgotten!) insight: God is infinite, we are finite - it stands to reason that much about Him is beyond our ability to understand all at once!
But, here’s the clincher: God does not just abandon us to the misery of our ignorance and limitations; rather, He has fully committed Himself to blessing His children with the fullness of His self-revelation! However, there’s no getting around the fact that contemplating the fullness of revelation requires time, effort, and experience on our part. And yes, patience - the patience of Job!
Jb 38: 1. 12-21; 40: 3-5/ Ps 138(139): 1-3. 7-8. 9-10. 13-14ab/ Lk 10: 13-16
From today's readings: "Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You?... Truly You have formed my inmost being - You knit me in my mother's womb..... Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me, rejects the One who sent Me."
Are you God?
As mentioned, the book of Job refuses to merely hazard glib and ultimately unsatisfactory answers to the questions about suffering in life. In fact, when God appears towards the end of the book, rather than answer questions, He poses dozens of new ones! But all of the Almighty’s questions asked of Job can be summarized into one: Are you God?
Of course, if God asked us that same question, you and I could do no better than mumble Job’s same answer: “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You? I put my hand over my mouth!”
What then is the point of God’s questions for Job (and for us)? Do they amount to just a cheap copout, an avoidance of the issue by changing the subject? Job’s innocent suffering raises some profound questions about life - is it wrong to turn to our faith for answers?
No, it’s not at all wrong to plumb our faith in such situations - in fact, it’s the absolute best thing to do! And as we delve deeper into our faith, we’re faced with a crucial (but oft forgotten!) insight: God is infinite, we are finite - it stands to reason that much about Him is beyond our ability to understand all at once!
But, here’s the clincher: God does not just abandon us to the misery of our ignorance and limitations; rather, He has fully committed Himself to blessing His children with the fullness of His self-revelation! However, there’s no getting around the fact that contemplating the fullness of revelation requires time, effort, and experience on our part. And yes, patience - the patience of Job!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/01/2008
<< Home