Monday 26 September 2022

Today is Monday the 26th of September, in the 26th week of Ordinary time.

Paul Zach sings ‘Sorrow’s Got A Hold On Me’.

Sorrow's got a hold on me
The shadow is all I see
Weighed down, no I can't break free
Sorrow's got a hold on me
Waters sweeping over me
Helpless, and I'm in too deep
The flood is overwhelming me
Waters sweeping over me
O Christ come near
Come near to this broken heart of mine
To this broken heart of mine
Thunder coming down on me
Howling, and the wind it screams
This storm will blow away with me
Thunder coming down on me
O Christ come near
Come near to this broken heart of mine
To this broken heart of mine
In the silence of despairing
In the waking in the night
In the watching and the waiting
Stay here by my side
In the silence of despairing
In the waking in the night
In the watching and the waiting
Stay here by my side
Lord Jesus, come and weep with me
Oh, come and weep with me, oh Lord
Lord Jesus, come and wait with me
Come and wait with me, oh lord
Come near


Today’s reading is from the Book of Job. Today, we will only hear the passage read through once. Notice what prompts your attention and stays with you…

Job 1:6-22

One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the LORD, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ The LORD said to Satan, ‘Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

In this scripture passage we meet Job, a good and upright man who suddenly loses everything, his wealth, his property and his family in a flurry of tragic events worthy of the most outrageous of disaster movies.

What are your feelings after hearing this account?

What emotions are called to mind?

The Book of Job lives out the problem of suffering in the experience and character of this innocent man.

Is this something that you reflect on?

Have there been times when you have felt the ‘innocent’ when difficulties occur?

How did you respond?

Job’s penitential silence and acceptance may feel challenging to you. The world often questions the existence of a compassionate God in the light of daily sufferings. How do you experience this?

“the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” How easy or challenging do you find it to say these words today? Take a moment to reflect on each phrase…

Is there a difference between suffering that includes a denial of God, and suffering that calls for deeper faith in God?

Consider this as you offer your thoughts to a God who is full of love and compassion, as we draw this time of prayer to a close.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.