THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of 26^th Week in Ordinary time, 2022

Job 3:1-3.11-17.20-23

Ps 88

Luke 9:51-56

St. Vincent de Paul 

Job's struggle...

Today we celebrate one of the icons of charity in Christendom—St Vincent de Paul, a priest who dedicated his whole life to the service of the poor and derived joy and happiness from serving the less privileged. He saw it as an honor to be given the chance to serve the poor and invested his whole self into it, he called them ‘Master.’ He also inspired many other people to follow his good example, by starting a religious congregation of priests for missionary work; groups of laymen and women to help the poor ones in the community; and St Louise de Marillac, who founded a female congregation of the Sisters of Charity. In almost every parish today, we have the St. Vincent de Paul group doing the diligent work of helping the poor.

In our first reading (Job 3:1-3.11-17.20-23), Job cursed the day of his birth. Yesterday’s passage was followed by a second wave of attack by satan who touched the skin of Job so that he was now covered in sores from head to toe. He sat down in ashes, completely stripped now of his wealth, power, family, and good health. Who in his condition will not contemplate death, as the best escape from the troubles? Like any person weighed down by sorrow, he expressed his mind about his pains. He questioned why he came into the world and did not die at conception or birth. “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?… Why was I not a hidden untimely birth, as infants that never see the light?… Why is light was given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they find the grave?” Even the most faithful of people have moments of doubt about their faith, about why they face difficulties when it seems the bad guys get it easy. 

The gospel (Luke 9:51-56) presents the reaction of some of the disciples of Jesus to their rejection in a village of the Samaritans. Because of the animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans, they will not allow the party, to pass through their place because it was going to Jerusalem. James and John said to Jesus, “Lord do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” As human beings, we become impatient sometimes, with those who do not see things our way. We cannot however preach the good news with violence. Jesus rebuked them and took another route. Those who do not accept your message today will someday celebrate you. Patience is necessary for the work of the gospel.

Let us pray: O God, save us in your name. Do not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Keep us safe in your love. Amen. 

Remain blessed!