FIRST READING
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, ‘blessed be the name of the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Job (Job 1:6-22)
There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none 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 hedge about 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 put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burnt up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; 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 wrong.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 17:1.2-3.6-7 (R. 6b)
R/. Lord, turn your ear to me; hear my words.
O Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips. R/.
From you may my justice come forth.
Your eyes discern what is upright.
Search my heart and visit me by night.
Test me by fire, and you will find no wrong in me. R/.
R/. Lord, turn your ear to me; hear my words
To you I call; for you will surely heed me,
O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your merciful love.
By your right hand you deliver from their
foes those who put their trust in you. R/.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He who! Is least among you all is the one who is great.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:46-50)
At that time: An argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
When we think of children, our first thoughts are of how much trouble they give, how petty and naïve they appear. Think of how bothersome their noise could be around you when you are on an important phone call. Think of the anger when in their innocence they scratch lines on your car. Watch a pack of them yapping, running and jumping, bouncing aimlessly, kicking one another or breaking down a door. Yet in our gospel text of today, Jesus insists that if we must see God, we must look to children. but how are we to understand this? Of course, despite their pettiness, children are highly dependent, trusting, innocent and simple with no sense of self-importance. In which case, to belong to the kingdom of God, we must recognize our dependence and nothingness and yield ourselves to receive the kingdom as a gift of God.