26th Week in the Ordinary Time - Tuesday (Year II)
27th September 2022 (Tuesday)
Directed to destiny!
Reading of the Day
For more certainity the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}
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First Reading: Job 3: 1-3,11-17,20-23
Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said: "Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man is conceived.' "Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, with kings and counsellors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves, or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light? There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. "Why is light 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? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5a, 5b-6, 7-8 (R. 3a)
Response: Let my prayer come into your presence, O Lord
I cry before you day and night.
Let my prayer come into your presence.
Incline your ear to my cry. Response
in regions that are dark and deep.
Your anger weighs down upon me;
I am drowned beneath your waves. Response
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-56
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But other people did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}
Main Theme: Directed to destiny!
Indicative: In the face of our infidelity and failures, God is not hasty to condemn and destroy us. He waits patiently. But what is our attitude and how do we go about it?{alertWarning}
1. Suffering and affliction is the lot of all. No one is exempt from it. The difference between humans is not about having or not having troubles and problems. The difference is in how we look at them, how we face them, and respond to them.
2. There can be different kinds of reactions. Some are easily upset when they come across some difficulty. They may become agitated and violent. They may begin to criticise or lament. They may become depressed or cynical. They may be shaken in their faith and may even give up. They may quit their journey of authenticity and commitment.
3. Some of these negative reactions are found in today’s gospel. A Samaritan village rejects Jesus because of the prejudice or jealousy against the Jews as Jesus was set toward Jerusalem. James and John become annoyed and furious and want to destroy them by fire from heaven.
4. But some others remain steadfast. The more they are tested, the more they remain rooted and loyal. The trials do not succeed to discourage them but challenge them and strengthen them. Jesus is emblematic of this positive mind. He does not condemn the non-receptive Samaritans and rebukes the disciples’ wish for their destruction.
5. Instead, he moves ahead on his journey toward Jerusalem. He is not disheartened nor is he deterred in his focus and mission. A similar example of perseverance is seen in Job in the first reading. The happy, prosperous and highly honoured Job becomes a man of despise and respite. He too laments intensely over his misery which is so vividly depicted in today’s text.
6. All this description shows us only the intensity of his deprivation and misery. It is not a sign of his hopelessness and wavering in faith. He persists in his faith and righteousness. St Vincent de Paul whom we commemorate today is a great example of this perseverance and fidelity. He dedicated his priestly life to preaching and founded the Congregation of the Priests of the Mission or Lazarists (Vincentians). He also spent his life in selfless service, especially to the slaves. He is renowned as the “Great Apostle of Charity”
Imperative: Both Job and Jesus invite us to check our own reactions and response in the face of adversities and afflictions, especially for the sake of our faith and values. Do we persevere and continue our journey valiantly?{alertWarning}