Wonders Of Creation

Job spoke, saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. (Job 7:1-4, 6-7)

How often do we feel like Job believing life on earth is a drudgery?  We wait daily for our wages from one or two jobs always trying to make ends meet.  We have troubled nights with difficult time sleeping for our minds are alert with worry about what the next day might bring.  The night drags on and we are restless until dawn.  We might lack hope and wonder if we will ever be happy.  We are Job.  We feel like demons are always nipping at our heels, and we fear we will fall to them.   They don’t tire, but we do.

Job’s dilemma started with Satan [roaming the earth and patrolling it] making a bet with God.  According to the prologue of the Book of Job, “When challenged by Satan’s questioning of Job’s sincerity, the Lord gives leave for a series of catastrophes to afflict Job. Three friends come to console him. Job breaks out in complaint, and a cycle of speeches begins. Job’s friends insist that his plight can only be a punishment for personal wrongdoing and an invitation from God to repent. Job rejects their inadequate explanation and challenges God to respond. A young bystander, Elihu, now delivers four speeches in support of the views of the three friends. In response to Job’s plea that he be allowed to see God and hear directly the reason for his suffering, the Lord answers, not by explaining divine justice, but by cataloguing the wonders of creation. Job is apparently content with this, and, in an epilogue, the Lord restores Job’s fortune."

Our own worldly problems have nothing to do with Satan making a wager with God that we would curse God if suddenly our lives were filled with great woe.  They likely have more to do with our own fevers created by unclean spirits – the demons – we let roam inside us.  These are the demons of hypocrisy, cowardice, distrust, betrayal, dishonesty, envy, and greed.  They are debilitating creatures. Let’s listen to Mark in today’s Gospel reading.

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. (Mark 1:29-39)

We all look for Jesus.  When we find him and listen to Jesus, Satan’s Job-like wager is rejected, and our muted demons flee.  We are cured.  We are wonders of creation!

Deacon David Pierce