God Has Hemmed Us In October 3

http://www.usccb.org/nab/100306.shtml

Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit? They wait for death and it comes not; they search for it rather than for hidden treasures, Rejoice in it exultingly, and are glad when they reach the grave: Those whose path is hidden from them, and whom God has hemmed in! Job 3:20-23

Jesus turned and rebuked them. Luke 9:55

Piety

God, source of all knowledge and maker of our path to heaven, give us the patience of your humble servant Job. Despite the hardships in his life, Job endured until you revealed your grand plan to him. Help us to understand and accept the difficult steps which you have laid out before us. Hem us in to your way of peace. Deliver us from evil, rejection and violence and grant us peace today. We ask this through the Prince of Peace, your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/100306.shtml

How little we understand God’s ways?!

Today, Luke tells us how Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem knowing that the cross awaits him there. As he faces rejection in the Samaritan village, it appears that He takes on the bitter attitude we hear from Job early in the Hebrew Bible.

First, Job curses his condition in life because God has not revealed his path to Job. However, as the story progresses, despite the fact that Job lost everything in life, we learn that he does not blame God but only seeks to know God’s plan.

As explained in the Introduction to the Book of Job in the NAB, “In response to Job's plea that he be allowed to see God and hear from him the cause of his suffering, God answers, not by justifying his action before men, but by referring to his own omniscience and almighty power. Job is content with this. He recovers his attitude of humility and trust in God, which is deepened now and strengthened by his experience of suffering.”[1]

We can first compare Job favorably to Jesus and then the apostles to Job (somewhat unfavorably). Jesus already knows God’s plan and accepts it in a Job-like manner despite his tears and sweat and blood. However, the lesson today is hidden in the actions of James and John. Contrast their reaction to that of Job.

When James and John saw Jesus rejected, they wanted to turn to a vengeful God to punish the village. However, in a turn of events that foretells the exchange with Peter and the sword in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus rebukes those who resort to violence. Instead, they shake the dust off their feet and press onward to a different village.

Jesus is here to reveal to us the path He wants us to take and where He wants to dwell. Jesus wants us to follow Him and let Him dwell in our hearts and minds and spirits. He wants us to accept this with Job-like patience and humility.

But we will struggle like James and John. After three years of direct experience with Jesus, they still want to turn to vengeance rather than peace.

Action

Jesus reveals to us suffering. He wants us to take initiative. He wants us to hear His word and act upon the message.

Today, the papers are filled with tragedy. Three students are shot in a peaceful Amish school in Pennsylvania. A Congressman resigns in a scandal after exploiting innocent young “pages” working in Washington. Innocent lives remain at risk in the Sudan. Pleas for action – even from President Bush – seem to fall on deaf ears. If the Sudanese government does not allow in a peace-keeping force, then people are advocating the use of military force.[2]

Would Jesus rebuke them as well? What course of action would he prescribe?
[1] http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/job/intro.htm
[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/01/AR2006100100871.html