Readings: Job 9:1-13,14-16, Ps. 88:10-15, Luke 9:57-62
“No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Today, we continue our reading of the book of Job; the story of a just man who, despite his righteousness, experienced great sorrow and pain for no fault of his. In today’s passage, Job responds to his friends who assumed his ordeals were a punishment from God for his sins. Even in Jesus’ time, many saw misfortune as a sign of God’s wrath.
Jesus and his disciples saw a man who was born blind, and they asked Jesus: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). In another instance, Jesus was told about the Galileans whom Pilate brutally murdered. Some were wondering how many sins these Galileans committed to suffer such painful deaths. To their surprise, Jesus said: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered thus? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-3)
That is to say, even though it is true that “the wages of sin is death” (i.e. Romans 6:33), God does not treat us according to our sins. As the Psalmist would say: “If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, who would survive?” Having done a thorough examination of conscience, Job declared: “How can a man be just before God?” In other words, no one can ever say they are without sin. At the same time, no one can accuse God of being unfair or unjust.
Coming to our Gospel passage, we hear Jesus saying to a man who wanted to bid farewell to his family before answering the call to ministry: “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus would say: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27).
Following Jesus is not an easy road. Tough times are guaranteed. As we saw with Job, we will face so many things we cannot understand, but once we have said “yes” to God, there should be no turning back. Faith, like love, requires a certain degree of blindness: placing our trust completely in God instead of questioning Him about why this is this and that is that.
To the one who opted to follow Jesus on his own, Jesus warned him: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58). Surely, there are so many good things we get to enjoy for being Christians, but our worship of God should not be predicated on these things. We are Christians not because of what we stand to gain from God but because we love God. As such, even when we don’t receive anything or when misfortunes come our way, we must remain faithful.
St. Jerome, originally named Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, was born around 342 AD in Stridon, Dalmatia. He became a key figure in early Christianity. Educated in both Latin and Greek, Jerome initially lived a worldly life. However, he chose to be baptised in 366. Jerome’s deep desire for theological understanding led him to travel widely. He went to Trier for church training and later joined a monastery in Aquileia. Jerome spent several years as a desert hermit, dealing with illness and experiencing religious visions, before eventually becoming a priest in Antioch.
In Constantinople, he studied under St. Gregory of Nazianzus. His most significant period was in Rome, where he served as secretary to Pope Damasus. There, Jerome’s reputation grew as he promoted asceticism and faced various controversies. To escape the ensuing conflicts, Jerome moved to Bethlehem. Together with other followers, he founded a monastery and continued his theological writings, defending Mary’s virginity and participating in major religious debates.
Jerome is best known for translating the Bible from Hebrew and Old Latin, a massive project he worked on throughout his life. Despite challenges like the sack of Rome and instability in Bethlehem, he remained dedicated until his peaceful passing on 30 September 420. St. Jerome is the patron saint for archaeologists, biblical scholars, librarians, students, and translators.
Let us pray: O God, who gave the Priest Saint Jerome a living and tender love for Sacred Scripture, grant that your people may be ever more fruitfully nourished by your Word and find in it the fount of life. 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
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor. Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Job 9:1-13,14-16, Ps. 88:10-15, Luke 9:57-62)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu