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Memorial of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the
Church
Job 1:6-12
Psalm 17:1-3,6,7
Gospel, Luke:9:46-50
S
UMMARY
In the first reading, Satan puts the Lord God to the test, believing
that Job "surely will blaspheme you to your face". In that testing, Job
responds: "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked I
shall go back again...blessed be the name of the Lord!". The psalm-
ist directs his plea to the judge of all, saying "hearken to my prayer
from lips without deceit....I call upon you, for you will answer me, O
God; incline your ear to me; hear my word". In the Gospel, Jesus
reads the rivalrous thoughts of his disciples and responds with pre-
senting them with a child. "Whoever receives this child in my name
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the great-
est."
R
EFLECTION
Who among us is without fault? Does what comes from our lips all
to often not have some measure of deceit? And who among us
would really desire the powerlessness of a child?
Job's exclamation is one of utter dependence on the kindness of the
Lord. He knows of his "nakedness", that he is only "clothed" in the
gifts of God.
Yes, we are like children in that we often are unsure of the love we