October 3rd Sunday V
Reading from the Book of Job 1:1; 2:1-10
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the LORD, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going to and fro on it.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.’ ‘Skin for skin!’ Satan replied. ‘A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ The LORD said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Psalm 26
Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD and have not faltered.
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.
I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, LORD,
proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.
Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.
My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the LORD.
Reading from the Letter of Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:
‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
and put everything under their feet.’
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says,
‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.’
Gospel of Mark 10:2-16
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied. They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female”. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the beloved community of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the beloved community of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Reflection Points
1. Hope is the key to living through despair. Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God speaks of a future hope that is guaranteed and certain. Even if today we see only glimpses and signs of hope amidst so much suffering, we can still live in the light of our prayer ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven’. One day, God’s kingdom will come in all its glorious fulness. That does not mean we passively wait. Rather it gives us the motivation to live today in the light of that future truth.
2. In some mysterious way, Hebrews 2 also suggests that we as believers, are caught up with Christ in his glory, made holy, and ‘crowned with glory and honor’, with all things placed under our feet (2:7-8, quoting Psalm 8). Back in Genesis 1, humans were made in God’s image and commissioned to reflect God’s loving purposes in leadership within creation. We have repeatedly failed, but here, as in Romans 8:19 which states ‘the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed’, it seems the Church (God’s ‘sons and daughters’) is once again given leadership within the community of creation. This is both a deep and humbling mystery, and a great privilege and responsibility.
Encourage sustainable living
Make sustainable lifestyle changes on an individual level
The Season of Creation is a wonderful time to reflect on how our lifestyles affect the environment and to make a commitment to more sustainable ways of living. The good news is that making more sustainable lifestyle choices in just a few areas adds up to a big difference overall. As the saying goes, “Let us live simply so that others may simply live.” Living simply is a way to ensure our planet is truly a home for all.
- Join the Season of Creation sustainability challenge which includes weekly themes related to diet, energy, consumerism, and transportation. (check the Season of Creation website for details)
- Engage a small group of people in your community to join you in the group to pray, reflect, and support one another
- Calculate your carbon footprint using an online calculator like this one
- Conduct an energy audit of your home and/or place of business
Thanksgiving for the Earth
Creator, the strength of all creatures, we honor you. Listen to the thoughts of your people.
We honor your Spirit who renews the world and calls us to care for your creation to the East, to the South, to the West and to the North.
We live by the ways you have entrusted to us within the circle of life. Come Great Spirit as we gather in your name.
We face East
The place of dawning, there is beauty in the morning, there the seeker finds new visions as each sacred day is born. All who honor life around them, all who honor life within, shall shine with light and glory when the morning comes again. And we pray,
Come Holy Spirit, Come
We turn to the South
In the South, the place of growing, there is wisdom in the earth, Both the painful song of dying and joyful song of birth. As the Earth gives up her lifeblood so that her children’s hearts may beat, so we give back to her our reverence for the holy ground beneath our feet. And we pray,
Come Holy Spirit, Come
We turn to the West:
The place of seeing, there is born a vision of the servant of the servants, who proclaimed the Gospel to us. Guide us at the end of each day and fill us with your peace. And we pray,
Come Holy Spirit, Come
We turn to the North
We look to God our Creator who cleanses our earth with snow, wind, and rain. To Jesus who fills us with the wideness of mercy and grace and lovingly embraces all the people. And the Holy Spirit who comes to inspire us. And we pray,
Come Holy Spirit, Come
Laudato si' O mi' Signore Song
