27/09/2022

Job gives vent to his despair  as he laments the futility of his life. He sees the grave as rest from the evil fortunes of this life. he knows that he is but wishes that he were not. He has been conceived and born into  meaningless futulity and the only solution for him is the peace of the grave. Job bitterly complains to God whom he accuses of being the obstacle to his happiness in life. However he does not deny the existence of God or of "being" after death.

The Samaritan villagers deny entry to Jesus for he is on his way to Jerusalem, to Zion, and bypasing their Temple Mount, Gerizim. As usual the disciples know what is "right" and demand that the village in question should be destroyed. John is portrayed later as the beloved disciple, the Apostle of God's Loving Kindness but here he is truly a "Son of Thunder" with the reaction to the slighting of the Lord worthy of  rashness of St Peter at his most thoughtless.

The patience of Father, Son and Holy Spirit with humanity is very much part of the Revelation that is to be found in Scripture. God listens to our cries.  His Love knows the reality of our sometime helplessness. As Job we sometimes face the wall and scream out against the perceived unfairness in our lives. As John and James we demand the destruction of the perceived enemies of God. Jesus knows that our freedom has to be curtailed but not by an act of the Father rather by us bringing our freedom into line with his, the Evergreater. Jesus listens but continues to another village.

Dear Lord me let me listen to your teachings and follow your example. I must not give in to any perception of futility in my Life. I must not react in petulant anger against the  thriving of Evil over good that is still part of this world. May I never lose sight of the support that is the  prayer of Mary and all the Saints in eternity. May St Vincent de Paul uphold the members of the society that bears his name, in their work for the needy and poor of this world.