“Job answered the LORD and said:
I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Poor Job! He led a rough life but in the end he knew that no matter what evil happened to him he knew God was in charge – always and at every moment of his life God was in charge. I will qualify this by saying no matter what good or evil happens in my life God is in charge.
Recently my neighbor’s son lost his job. His dream job. The son had recently left that dream job and moved from one city to his hometown because his dad had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and he wanted to be close to family. His boss in the new city did not like him. I am not sure of the situation but he ended up getting fired. He is about 25 and unmarried and I am sure he will find employment. Nonetheless, this must be a devastating time for him. Family illness and loss of employment are always depressing circumstances. I have complete empathy for my neighbors son because I was in the same boat.
In my life I have been fired about three times that I can remember. One I should not even count because I was unqualified to begin with for that particular job. But another time while I liked the work circumstances happened and I lost my employment. Looking back it was providential. I had to reassess my life and seek new direction.I moved back to Saint Petersburg (Florida, USA) and as it happened my dad got sick and died about three years after I moved back. I was there for my mom who did not drive and is another example of how God in his plan for our lives turns lemons to lemonade. This was one example in my life but if you reflect on your own life and looking back you can see many examples, that I am sure where God took a devastating moment and turned it to good.
Daily scripture readings, reflections and witnesses of other people help me see God’s hand in the life of others and myself.
Matthew 7:7-8 says:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Not everything I have prayed for in my life was what I wanted, but the outcome was what God wanted. Looking at the Gospel for today’s reading, it is important to know why the seventy two disciples were sent out in the first place. Their mission was in Luke 10:8-9:
“Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”These disciples came back saying “ Lord even demons are subject to your name.”
I think we all ask at one time or another why doesn’t God do something about this or that or why do I have to suffer and why aren’t my prayers answered? Why isn’t my candidate elected? Why can’t we perform miracles on demand?
I recently read a quote by Saint Vincent de Paul which said: “We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything.”
Time you say! I don’t want to wait! Patience is the operative word in this quote. However, Jesus did come to this earth only to perform miracles, but He did come to proclaim the kingdom of God is at hand. He came to teach and establish His Church on earth through the apostles and our Baptism save us from sin. He redeemed us and proclaimed the promise of the ages that the Kingdom of God in at hand.
In Luke 10:22 Jesus said, “ All things have been handed over to me by My Father.” Jesus is in charge of our daily lives. Yes, daily! No matter how dark our circumstances become it is important to know that Jesus is in charge. No matter how great a sinner we are we can always come to Jesus in the sacrament of Reconciliation because He is in charge.
God Bless You!
Daily Mass Readings
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17; Psalm 119:66,71,75,91,125,130; Luke 10:17-24
