Friday, October 3 2014; Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 459

Reading 1
jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:

Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.

Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.

Responsorial Psalm
ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab

R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; 
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Gospel
lk 10:13-16

Jesus said to them,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me. 
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread, One Body - Reflection for October 3, 2014
THEME: SEE-SICK

"My journeys and my rest You scrutinize, with all my ways You are familiar." –Psalm 139:3

Job had a rough journey, being tossed about emotionally and spiritually, because he couldn't "see" God's love and provision in the midst of his trials (see Eph 4:14). When his "Captain" called "Attention!" (see Jb 38:16ff), Job realized the awesome power of God (Jb 40:4) and his own rank of low standing (see Prv 1:7). Once Job saw the Lord (Jb 42:5), his healing and restoration followed shortly thereafter (Jb 42:7ff).

The townsfolk of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were privileged to witness the love of God made manifest in the miracles of Christ. However, they were blind to God's love for the poor and the weak and unable to "see" their own need to repent (Lk 10:13ff). They are warned by Jesus that their behavior merits a more severe judgment and that their "see-sickness" may even be terminal (Lk 10:15).

It's been said, "The eye is the window to the soul" (see Mt 6:22-23). Do you guard your eyes from evil? (see Is 33:15) Or is your life full of "enticements for the eye"? (1 Jn 2:16)

Do you see what I see?

PRAYER: "Probe me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; see if my way is crooked, and lead me in the way of old" (Ps 139:23-24).

PROMISE: "He who hears you, hears Me. He who rejects you, rejects Me. And he who rejects Me, rejects Him Who sent Me." –Lk 10:16

PRAISE: Steven, at first, was unable to share his faith with strangers, but found he was able to do all things with God (see Mt 19:26).

Be an inspiration, kindly Share.