Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 455



But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?


At some point most of us notice the disparity of what the authorities say and what they do. Parents, teachers, coaches, doctors and how-many-others admit it quite openly, "Do as I say, not as I do!"

If there had been a "Cynical Society" when I was in high school, most of my friends would have joined in, and I might have been the president. We cultivated cynicism, thinking we had discovered a secret passage to Truth, and a more profound grasp of honesty. The authorities could teach nothing and ask for nothing that we didn't find a self-serving, hidden agenda in their statements.

In today's first reading from the Book of Job, Satan appears as the Cynic. He cannot acknowledge Job's love of God, his honest dealings with others, or his personal integrity in public and private affairs. The man obviously has reasons for his uprightness. "Skin for skin!" Satan declares. Job is pious because it works for him.

Cynicism believes there are no values. The only truth is power, and the only purpose is survival. Hypocrisy is the rule of life for the righteous; they do good to do well. When asked to make real sacrifice for the sake of others, your "law abiding citizens" will refuse. Or, more likely, they will find some plausible excuse for arguing that sacrifice is not only unnecessary, it is counterproductive.

Job's answer is philosophic and somewhat pessimistic. He cannot imagine why these terrible things are happening. He knows that bad things should not happen to good people but the Almighty, All-Good, All-Wise, Beautiful God does what he does and answers to no one. He says,

"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,and naked shall I go back again.The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;blessed be the name of the LORD!... (1:22)
We accept good things from God;
should we not accept evil?” (2:10)

"God owes us nothing!" as Protestant Calvinists and Catholic Jansenists were fond of saying. Nor should we expect friendship or mercy from God; it's below God's dignity.

Jesus reveals a different side of God, one which the Anonymous Authors of Job can hardly expect. God will stoop down to show compassion. More, God will send his Only Begotten Son, who is the perfect image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), to surrender his life for our salvation. 

If Jesus saw in Job a type of his mission, he infinitely surpassed it. He didn't simply bear passively with the inevitability of suffering. He willingly, eagerly and joyfully approached Jerusalem knowing that this was a one way -- a "won way" -- journey. 

There is nothing to be gained in Jesus' sacrifice except our salvation. The Son of God cannot exceed his own glory -- God cannot surpass God! -- but he will empty himself in the privilege of obedience. (The Franciscan Saint Clare would follow in his steps as she insisted on "the privilege of poverty.")

Interestingly, I have heard on NPR radio lately some questioning of the virtue of cynicism. Schooled in sarcasm and suspicious of hypocrisy, some authors, songwriters and sculptors wonder if they can create works of art honestly, without that winking eye or knowing edge of suspicion. What would such simple, unaffected honesty look like? Can we dance, sing or speak with the unaffected straightforwardness of children? Can anyone reenter his mother's womb and be born again? 

Carrying his cross, Jesus leads us and teaches us. If you would be my disciple you must take up your cross of self-sacrifice each day and follow in my steps. The saints, like our honoree today, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, shows us it can be done. It's really not that difficult though it requires continual vigilance. It is there for anyone who asks in His name.