Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

 Lectionary: 455

"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!"

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

Job's initial response to his troubles have been described as stoic, as if he had philosophically steeled himself to life's difficulties, and found nobility in his silent suffering. Philosophers of a similar mindset admire that kind of courage and would emulate it. 

But stoicism ignores the overall gist of the Book of Job, which points to the LORD's sovereign rule and Job's acquiescence. "Life Happens" does not recognize, or even admit, the Hand of God in human affairs.

Scholars tell us Job is the most complex book in the Bible. It comprises several different documents, written by several different authors, and probably pieced together by more than a few editors. The initial story of Job's trials is followed by more than thirty chapters of his arguments with the sages who said he should quit complaining and accept his punishment. 

Not many readers are satisfied with the denouement of the last chapters when the LORD rebukes Job's complaints and then rewards his piety. They argue that Job's complaints remain unanswered, and are unanswerable. 

But most readers recognize the wisdom of the proverb, ""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!" Plus a second proverb heard in the second chapter, "We accept good things from God; should we not accept evil?" 

Job's remarks find resonance in the Lord's parable of the wealthy farmer who paid his laborers the same agreed-upon amount whether they'd worked all day or only a few hours. In that story, the landowner replied to only one laborer, "What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’

And finally, Jesus transforms Job's apparent resignation into an enthusiastic response to life's sufferings. His attitude reflects a kind of resurrection, as if he died to himself long before his death on the cross. 

Saint Francis, whose feast day is three days away, also demonstrated a joyful acceptance of pain and suffering as he composed his Canticle of the Sun during the last months of his life. He had practiced with all the enthusiasm of an Olympic athlete, for the test of his final days. Despite his painful blindness and the constant ache of the wounds on his hands, feet, and side, and his body so damaged by his medieval asceticism, he submersed himself among the creatures of the universe -- the sun, moon and stars, earth, wind, water, and fire, and the staggering mystery of death -- and sang, 

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,

and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Stoics hope their courage will be praised; they do not praise God with enthusiasm.  Their resignation falls far short of gratitude, joy, and delight in the presence of God. Nor does anyone simply change their attitude and adopt that of Jesus and Francis and innumerable saints. Rather, we practice it as life offers many opportunities for satisfaction in disappointment, gratitude in grief, and modesty in success. In all things we remember that He is all.