In the first reading, we reach the end of the Book of Job. In a certain way, the story line has been a prosecution of the events that “robbed” Job of his family, possessions, and well-being. The event was well described and presented. Witnesses appeared: the four dialogue partners – or perhaps they were the prosecution team with Job acting as his own defense lawyer? In Job’s closing argument, continuing to profess his innocence of any wrongdoing, he laments that the key witness, the Lord, has not appeared. Continue reading
Finding Oneself in God
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As you might imagine, during my time as a Catholic priest, many folks have come to talk with me while they are in the midst of suffering. Suffering from a cataclysmic life event, a prolong encounter with illness, betrayal, a life that is heading in the wrong direction, the weight of dealing with a situation or with people – and many more topics. I rarely have solutions and even if I had a suggestion, that’s not why people come to talk. There is a very human need to say things out loud in a place they are sure that someone will listen. As best I can, I try to listen. I pray with them. I suggest they begin to take a look and see where they might find God in milieu of life that swirls around them. And sometimes I will inquire if they have read the Book if Job.
Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Jerome, best known for his work on the translations of Hebrew and Greek texts of Sacred Scripture into the Latin language version known as the Vulgate. He was also known as a man given to being persnickety, temperamental, easily annoyed and with a quick temper. And he is a saint… there is hope for us all, perhaps.
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