Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 / Luke 10:17-24 (2020 / 2024)
We like things to have a happy ending. If it is a story book or a movie, a happy ending will earn our approval.
Even in life, whatever we undertake, be it projects or assignments or whatever tasks, we would like it to have a happy ending, so that we would earn the approval of others.
In the 1st reading, we have finally come to the last chapter of the book of Job. The book of Job has often been the assigned reading for those who have questions about innocent suffering.
Well, the book of Job closes with a happy ending with the fortunes of Job restored and he lived to a ripe old age and full of days.
Yet Job did not find the answers as to why he had been afflicted with sufferings and tragedies. His consolation, besides his restoration, was his realization of who God is (but now I have seen You with my own eye ...)
He realized that everything happens under the watchful eyes of God, and God's plan for us is always for our good and not otherwise.
In the gospel the 72 disciples came back to Jesus rejoicing that even devils submit to them when they use the authoritative name of Jesus.
But the time will come when the whole strength of the enemy will come at them, and they will be persecuted and they will even have to face death.
It may not be that kind of happy ending that people wish for, yet for whatever ending it will be, they will accept it willingly.
Because the true happy ending will be that their names are written in heaven. May we willingly accept our difficulties and sufferings in life and realize who God is, so that our names will also be written in heaven.