The appointed readings have for the past several weeks been making their
way through Job. Job is a difficult book to read; both because of its
content and the language used.
The content is painful - Job is lifted up by God as an example of a
faithful servant. Satan (this is one of only three times in the Old
Testament where Satan acts) seeks God's permission to remove Job's
blessings, sure that Job only follows God out of self-interest. And
thus begins Job's suffering.
The language reflects the values and the life of persons of ancient near east. So his examples and images often miss us.
Job pleads his case, throughout the book. He insists what we (the
reader) knows, but what is questioned by his friends. Job returns to
his innocence. He repeats that he has done nothing to deserve the ills
which have come his way.
"Have I eaten my morsel alone?" he asks.
Job had not refused to feed the hungry. He had shared the fleece of his
sheep. Into his care we welcomed the one who was fatherless. Job has
not "eaten his morsel alone."
While not meaning to re-insert into our lives any notion of
righteousness born of merit, I would ask us to consider Job's claim and
ask whether we would be able to join his mantra. Have we shared, or
"eaten our morsel alone"? We will not merit God's grace by feeding the
hungry, but surely if we have become aware that all we have is a gift
from God, then we ought to be more generous in sharing.
Job is a good example of what I shared during last night's LCM program.
He allows God (and even his friends) to hold up a mirror so that he can
look honestly at his life and his service to God. How willing are we
to look into that mirror, and have an honest assessment of our
willingness to share our bread?
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