Reflection
Job is someone who continually suffers from horrible luck. He also seems to be disheartened and frustrated by his lack of good luck! In our first reading from Job today, we hear about another series of woes befalling Job. This time I was seeing it with different eyes than I usually do. Satan was ever so sure that Job would get so overwhelmed at the tragic events that were befalling him that he would blame God and turn away from him in desolation! Clearly the opposite happened! Job held fast to his faith in God and did not succumb to the evil doings of Satan.
So many times, when bad things happen to us, we want to whine and complain and walk around with a long face feeling like we have been deserted by everyone including our God. We are tempted to wallow in frustration and disappointment as Satan said Job would do! Maybe we can follow Job’s example and hold fast to our faith in God.
Recently we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, a very important feast as Passionists. We were reminded of our call to stand at the foot of the cross and recall Jesus’ great love for us especially as he suffered and died for us.
We are called to recognize and stand with the crucified in our midst and to do so with love as our guiding force.
In my own life, I am constantly humbled as I minister with those who suffer in our midst. Each month we visit the correctional institution for women. We pray with these women, we listen to their stories, and we laugh and cry with them. Despite the circumstances that have brought them to this state in life, they continually feel they are blessed and loved by God. They stand at the foot of the cross and minister to each other. This gives us renewed hope that God’s love and goodness can overcome even Job-like days!
I am also blessed to be part of a ministry that helps our sisters and brothers who have been victimized by injustices that result in homelessness and incarceration. When the system finally frees them to return to their families, we help them return safely home. They have also spent time at the foot of the cross. They are sad, frightened and lonely to be unjustly treated, but do not wallow in that condition, rather giving thanks to God and our ministry team who bring them hope, comfort and freedom.
Job had his moments of pain and suffering and sometimes the darkness was overwhelming, but his faith and trust in a loving God always brought him a sense of hope. May we be people of faith, hope, and love as we recommit ourselves to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.
