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LESSONS OF JOB
(Part 40)
MARY, HANNAH AND JOB
December 22, 2009
Today’s readings
1 Samuel 1:24-28
1 Samuel 2:1-8
Luke 1:46-56
What is the common
denominator in today’s readings, as they relate to Mary, Hannah and
Job? Both Hannah and Mary exult in the Lord who reverses fortunes, while
Job experienced such a reversal of fortunes, twice over.
Hannah says God lays low the mighty, the well-fed and the mother of
many, while lifting up the weak, the hungry and the barren wife (1 Sm
2:4-5). Mary says God lays low the rulers and the rich, while lifting up
the lowly and the hungry (Lk 1:52-53). This is what happened to Job.
From his lofty position he was laid low, and then he was restored to an
even loftier position.
This is the mystery of a God who acts as He simply does, moving from one
extreme to another. “The Lord puts to death and gives life; he casts
down to the nether world; he raises up again. The Lord makes poor and
makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.” (1 Sm 2:6-7). Who can figure
God out? “The Almighty! we cannot discover him” (Job 37:23a).
God however has constantly revealed Himself in the scriptures as one who
loves the poor. He has “lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled
with good things” (Lk 1:52b-53a). “He raises the needy from the
dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor” (1 Sm 2:7). Even in the
case of Job, who was a rich man, God lifted him up from his affliction
only after he had lost everything and became poor, and only after he had
been sitting “among the ashes” (Job 2:8).
God raises the poor and needy, not just out of poverty, but to glorious
heights. His intent is “to seat them with nobles and make a glorious
throne their heritage.” (1 Sm 2:8b). Thus, from severe affliction, God
raised Job to double what his wealth and prestige had been. Thus, as
Mary exulted, God “looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold,
from now on will all ages call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48a).
Why is this? This is the way of God Himself. This is the way of Jesus.
Though he was God, he allowed himself to be emptied and humbled, and
then he returned to eternal glory as Lord and King (Phil 2:6-11). From
the heights to the depths and then back to the heights. Just like Job.
This is what we call the way of the cross. It is the way of
discipleship. Just like Jesus who suffered “death on a cross” (Phil
2:8), we are called to die to self (deny self), take up our cross, and
follow Jesus (Lk 9:23).
This is why suffering is redemptive. God chose to suffer, in order that
Jesus might win for us our salvation. God allows us to suffer, so that,
after gaining the purification that He intends for us, He might reverse
our situation. Is it any wonder then that God allows us to suffer? Even
when we are upright and blameless like Job?
But is this not unjust? In a way, yes. Just as it was unjust for a
righteous Jesus to be crucified as a criminal. But “his great justice
owes no one an accounting” (Job 37:23c).
In the end, we just rest in the knowledge that our God is just and
righteous. In His justice and righteousness, He reverses people’s
fortunes. He favors the poor and lowly. He raises the afflicted to great
heights of glory.
Ultimately, since He is Savior, God brings us to heaven.
Let then Mary’s canticle be ours as well. “My soul proclaims the
greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk
1:46). Let us join Hannah in singing praise to God. “My heart exults
in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my
enemies; I rejoice in my victory.” (1 Sm 2:1).
And Job? “Thus the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his
earlier ones.” (Job 42:12a). “Then Job died, old and full of
years.” (Job 42:17). In his latter days, Job simply rejoiced in the
victorious life God had given him.
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