St. Wenceslaus, king & martyr

St. Lorenzo Ruiz of Martyr & Companions, martyrs 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Job 1:6-22

One day the heavenly beings came

To present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came with them. Yahweh asked Satan, “Where have you been?” Satan answered, “Going up and down the earth, roaming about.”  Yahweh asked again, “Have you noticed my servant Job? No one on earth is as blameless and upright as he, a man who fears God and avoids evil.”

But Satan returned the question, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not built a protective wall around him and his family and all his possessions? You have blessed and prospered him, with his livestock all over the land. But stretch out your hand and strike where his riches are, and I bet he will curse you to your face.”

 Yahweh said to Satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power. But do not lay a finger upon the man himself.” So Satan left the presence of Yahweh.  One day, while his sons and daughters were feasting in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said, “Your oxen were plowing, and your donkeys were grazing nearby when the Sabaeans came and carried them off. They killed the herdsmen. I alone escaped to tell you.”

 While he was still speaking, another messenger came, “God’s fire fell from the sky and burned all your sheep and the shepherds as well. I alone have escaped to tell you.” He had hardly finished speaking when another messenger arrived, “Three raiding teams of Chal­deans have killed your servants and carried off your camels.

I alone have escaped to tell you.”  He was still speaking when another messenger came and said to Job, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the house of their eldest brother when suddenly a great wind blew across the desert and struck the house.

It collapsed on the young people and they all died. I alone have escaped to tell you.”  In grief Job tore his clothes and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped, saying, “Naked I came from my mo­ther’s womb, naked shall I return.

Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be his name!”  In spite of this calamity, Job did not sin by blaspheming God.

 

Ps 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7

Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 9:46-50

One day the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most impor­tant. But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he took a little child and stood him by his side. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.

And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.”  Then John spoke up, “Master, we saw someone who drove out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he doesn’t follow you with us.” But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him. He who is not against you is for you.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Television now is crowded with survival-of-the –fittest talent shows. The mechanics is to knock everyone. Only one emerges the winner. In one program, one judge advised a contestant:”You need to have more insecurities to beat the others.

You should not be contented with what you have, be jealous so that you can compete more.” This happens not only on television. Greatness is acquired by destroying the other. Jesus seeks greatness by way of humbling ourselves.

Like children, we are challenged to be aware that life is something to be enjoyed not to be won. A number of successful people suffer the loneliness of being on top.

They are forced to live life in a way not to be overtaken. Many of them commit suicide, some suffer deep depression. To be great is to know how low we are so that we need people to love and accompany us always.