The Feast of St Vincent de Paul | Tuesday 27 September 2022

Today is Tuesday the 27th of September, the feast of St Vincent de Paul, in the 26th week of Ordinary time.

Bifrost Arts sing, ‘Can the Dead Rise up to Praise?’ using words from Psalm 88. How do you hear these words today?


O God of my salvation, do you not hear?
My soul is full of trouble and death is near.
You sunk me to the bottom among the dead.
Your wrath is heavy on me; I have no friend.
Can the dead rise up to praise,
Sing of mercy from the grave?
Is Your faithfulness proclaimed
Even in the darkest place?
I cry in prayer before You; You hide Your face.
Your wrath has overwhelmed me and I can't escape.
Your terrors have destroyed me; they flood the day.
All those who ever loved me are far way.


Today’s reading is from the Book of Job.


Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. Job said:

‘Let the day perish on which I was born,
and the night that said,
“A man-child is conceived.”
‘Why did I not die at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Why were there knees to receive me,
or breasts for me to suck?
Now I would be lying down and quiet;
I would be asleep; then I would be at rest
with kings and counsellors of the earth
who rebuild ruins for themselves,
or with princes who have gold,
who fill their houses with silver.
Or why was I not buried like a stillborn child,
like an infant that never sees the light?
There the wicked cease from troubling,
and there the weary are at rest.
‘Why is light given to one in misery,
and life to the bitter in soul,
who long for death, but it does not come,
and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;
who rejoice exceedingly,
and are glad when they find the grave?
Why is light given to one who cannot see the way,
whom God has fenced in?

In this passage from the Book of Job, we hear an outpouring of despair, a man calling a curse on his very life. What feelings come to the surface when listening to this?

If you have been in a place of need, have you been able to voice your anger and distress, or have you felt obliged to show gratitude?

Job speaks frankly to God about the anger and pain that he experiences.

This is a prayer as much as any prayer of gratitude or worship. As you listen again, what do you notice?

Can you bring the reality of your life before God who knows and loves you, unafraid to speak honestly and openly?

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.