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Lent with the Book of Job (Ch 23)

March 16, 2023

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Chapter 23 (Thursday of the Third Week of Lent)

Then Job answered:
‘Today also my complaint is bitter;
   his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge.

‘If I go forward, he is not there;
   or backward, I cannot perceive him;
on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;
   I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
   when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
   I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
   I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.
But he stands alone and who can dissuade him?
   What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me;
   and many such things are in his mind.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
   when I consider, I am in dread of him.
God has made my heart faint;
   the Almighty has terrified me;
If only I could vanish in darkness,
   and thick darkness would cover my face!

Commentary

Who else except the Mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, is denoted by the title of ‘just judgement’? Concerning whom it is written, Who became for us wisdom and righteousness from God. This same righteousness came into this world against the ways of sinners, so that we might get the better of our old enemy by whom we were held captive. So let Job say, I do not want him to contend with me with great power or oppress me with the weight of his mightiness. Let him judge me justly, and my judgement will come to victory. In other words, for the correction of my ways let him send his incarnate Son. Then by the sentence of my absolution, I will become a victor over the devious foe.

If the only-begotten Son of God had remained invisible in the strength of his divine nature and admitted nothing derived from our weakness, when could weak people ever have found the access of grace to him? For the weight of his greatness would have oppressed them. Yet he assumed our weakness, that he might elevate us to his own abiding strength.

It goes on, And he will try me like gold that passes through fire. Gold in the furnace is advanced to the brightness of its nature while it loses the dross. And so like gold that passes through fire the souls of the righteous are tried. Their defects are removed and their good points are increased by the fire of tribulation. The holy man Job compared himself with one who is being tested in fire as gold. This was not said out of pride. He who by the voice of God was pronounced righteous before his suffering was not out of pride being permitted to be tried in order that bad qualities might be cleared off and that excellences might be heightened. Gold is purified by fire. As he was being delivered over to suffer tribulation, he believed that he was being purified, although he had nothing in him to be purified.

The text continues, I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. For we treasure the words of his mouth in the bosom of our heart when we hear his commandments not in a passing way but to fulfil them in practice. Thus, of the Virgin Mother herself it is written, But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Even when the same words come forth to be practised, they are still said to lie hidden in the recesses of the heart if by what is done outwardly the mind of the doer is not lifted up within. When the word conceived is carried on to the deed, human praise is aimed within, for the word of God is assuredly not hidden in the bosom of the mind. Why then, blessed man, do you examine yourself with so much earnestness, and why do you take yourself to task with so much anxiety? (St. Gregory the Great, Moralia in Job)

Musical Selection (Phil Wickham)

Where will you run, my soul
Where will you go when wells run dry
When the wind starts to blow
How you gonna keep this flame alive

In the fading light when night is breaking
I know You will always be waiting
You'll always be there
I'm running to the secret place

Where You are, where You are
I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart
Better is a moment that I spend with You

Than a million other days away
I'm running, I'm running
I'm running to the secret place
You are my only hope
You are the Rock on which I stand

You will not let me go
I know that I am safe inside Your hands
In the fading light when night is breaking
I know You will always be waiting
You'll always be there
I'm running to the secret place

Where You are, where You are
I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart
Better is a moment that I spend with You

Than a million other days away
I'm running, I'm running
I'm running to the secret place
Hands are lifted high, hearts awake to life

We are satisfied here with You, here with You
Chains will hit the floor, broken lives restored
We couldn't ask for more here with You, here with You
I'm running to the secret place
Where You are, where You are

I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart
Better is a moment that I spend with You
Than a million other days away
I'm running, I'm running
I'm running to the secret place

Collect

God of majesty,
we make this heartfelt prayer:
that the nearer we come to the great feast of our salvation,
the more fervently we may prepare ourselves
to celebrate the paschal mystery.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

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