Rejoice that your names are written in heaven
Introduction
Today we hear the closing words of the book of Job. In his sufferings he has voiced his complaints, his friends have tried to justify God, but Job cannot understand fully; finally his eyes have seen, he accepts that God is greater and wiser and that God knows best. We should understand better than Job, for we have seen the suffering face of the crucified Christ.
In the Gospel the disciples, and Jesus with them, rejoice that people have been liberated from the power of evil in the name of Jesus.
1 Reading Job 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.
Responsorial Psalm 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.
Alleluia Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 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.”
Commentary
It is ironical that the enemies of God instantly obey God’s word while the children of God refuse to obey God’s commandment and walk in His ways! Whereas snakes and scorpions refrain from exercising their naturally harmful behavior when ordered under Christ’s Name, God’s people, created in God’s own image and likeness, engage in sinful ways, dishonoring God’s Name! How is this possible?
It is possible because God has endowed us with free will. However, our free choices have consequences and we cannot run away from them. The saddest consequence will be the loss of our names from the scrolls of heaven. How greatly Jesus desires to share His power with us to defeat the Enemy, and so have the names of all his sisters and brothers written in heaven!
Blessing
The mystery of suffering and evil remains a problem. To many of its questions we have no answer and a superficial reference to the cross does not satisfy. We know that God wants our happiness. We also know that there is much suffering, much of it caused by people to other people. We keep believing in God’s love, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!