swallowtail photo taken last weekin the monastery garden

 

october 7 2006

 

October 7 2006

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. And he had seven sons and three daughters, of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch. In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren,and even his great-grandchildren.Then Job died, old and full of years.


Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 R. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm: all things serve you.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your decrees.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

Lk 10:17-24 The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said,“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Job is rewarded by God with great flocks of animals, beautiful children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Job said when he saw God he gave up what he had said and what he owned. The Lord blessed Job and he lived a long and full life. It is a very happy ending to a sad and desparate time that Job traveled through. It seemed in the beginning that it was in part the devil that was involved in testing Job and it did not start with God's initiation of the situation but ended with God rewarding and blessing Job.

The disciples that Jesus has sent out to heal and spread the Good News have returned to Jesus enthused that there were great works done. Jesus teaches that is a cause to rejoice because these acts were from heaven. It is a reminder that we are an instrument of God and the power of healing and ministry comes from God. Our reward is with God. The disciples are blessed because they have seen the miracles and Jesus with their own eyes and there will be many who must believe without seeing these things.

The psalmist rejoices in having recovered from an affliction because it was an opportunity to strengthen their faith. There are many times that there is growth after a time of suffering. An affliction can open another view of how the world is that can only be seen after the experience or during it. It does not mean that I should wish for afflictions but in my sickness or suffering, I can look for meaning and purpose in my life and God will answer my prayers and reward my faithfulness. I think the lesson that I keep relearning and being reminded of is to stay close to the Lord in living a life of love to all. After the life lived in good faith, all works for the best out of and from that life grounded in faith. I pray today for renewed strength for the journey and a steadfast and willing heart to serve the Lord and others.

October 7 2006

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. And he had seven sons and three daughters, of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch. In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren,and even his great-grandchildren.Then Job died, old and full of years.


Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 R. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm: all things serve you.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your decrees.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

Lk 10:17-24 The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said,“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Job is rewarded by God with great flocks of animals, beautiful children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Job said when he saw God he gave up what he had said and what he owned. The Lord blessed Job and he lived a long and full life. It is a very happy ending to a sad and desparate time that Job traveled through. It seemed in the beginning that it was in part the devil that was involved in testing Job and it did not start with God's initiation of the situation but ended with God rewarding and blessing Job.

The disciples that Jesus has sent out to heal and spread the Good News have returned to Jesus enthused that there were great works done. Jesus teaches that is a cause to rejoice because these acts were from heaven. It is a reminder that we are an instrument of God and the power of healing and ministry comes from God. Our reward is with God. The disciples are blessed because they have seen the miracles and Jesus with their own eyes and there will be many who must believe without seeing these things.

The psalmist rejoices in having recovered from an affliction because it was an opportunity to strengthen their faith. There are many times that there is growth after a time of suffering. An affliction can open another view of how the world is that can only be seen after the experience or during it. It does not mean that I should wish for afflictions but in my sickness or suffering, I can look for meaning and purpose in my life and God will answer my prayers and reward my faithfulness. I think the lesson that I keep relearning and being reminded of is to stay close to the Lord in living a life of love to all. After the life lived in good faith, all works for the best out of and from that life grounded in faith. I pray today for renewed strength for the journey and a steadfast and willing heart to serve the Lord and others.