Suffering Servant Job--- She's Back

I have been thinking a lot about the story of Job, and all that he went through as I go through the Bible In A Year podcast with Father Mike Schmitz. It brings me back to a time when I was in California as a young girl (ages 11-16) in an organization called Job’s Daughters. This was way before I became Catholic or knew anything about that ☺️. It was an organization for young girls with a Masonic heritage.

I was a third generation Job's Daughter. My grandmother, mother and aunt were all members. My Masonic heritage came from my grandfather. My brother is also a current member of the Masonic temple. The organization's intent is to give us a voice through leadership, public speaking, and service. But what I feel it taught me was memorization, rituals and secrecy. I learned nothing about the true story of Job or what God was trying to tell me through scriptures. I now know Job's story is a lot like ours. We often think we are on the right track in life, then life hits us in the face... and hard might I add.

Now that the sting of the hit is over, we may yell or even complain. We may curse God or deny Him. We may even resort to retaliation. Whatever your journey looks like, we have all been there. Even me. Too many times to count. It is what we do next that makes the difference.

Think about this for a minute. Did Job yell at God? Yep, he sure did. Did Job wallow in despair? Yep, sure did. Did Job get mad at his friends for trying to help? Or heck yeah he did. But does God ever leave Job? You may say it looked like he did. But what God did was choose a righteous man like Job and allowed him to suffer through Satan’s stupid tests. Why might you ask? We suffer for two reasons that I know of. First, we suffer for the good of ourselves. Like conversion or repentance. Second, we suffer for the good of another. Like redemptive suffering. (I would go into redemptive suffering but I am no theologian. This article by Father Michael Gaitley is amazing on redemptive suffering). Also, who else suffered at the hand of Satan and was righteous? ---Mary. Do you think her suffering was redemptive or repentant? Reedemptive right? Her suffering bore the child Jesus and lost Jesus through crucifixion, so that he can save us!!! Is your mind blown yet 🤯? All of this revelation because of our salty friend Job who is pissed at God, but has yet to deny or rebuke him. That is some grace filled redemptive suffering!!!

So are you all warm and fuzzy yet? Are we truly hearing what God has to say about us in these historical events? Mary continued to know (I did not say hear) the presence of God throughout all her suffering. God manifests his presence in so many ways. He may not have actually been talking to her directly like at the Annunciation through the archangel Gabriel. Or how He made himself known in the burning bush to Moses. What to gleam from this is that we are to always KNOW God's presence is with us. That is the basis for our faith in God right? What about Jesus Himself? Jesus has faith in his Father too - who is God that never abandoned him either. Didn't Jesus suffer too? Yes he sure did. Now what does all this look like for you and me?

Well for me God is saying this. “Look Joanna. You can be righteous and perfect all you want, but Satan will still go after you. Maybe even harder. You can’t control the stars, you can’t control the seas, you can’t control the hawks (Job 38:7-8, 26 RSV). But you can control your relationship with me. I will never abandon you. But will you abandon me? I showed my loyalty through Mary, Moses, and Job. Job’s suffering was redemptive... for you. It was meant to transform you. To comfort you in this moment.” Do you feel comforted? I actually do. I am Job... You are Job... We are all Job. But we can also be a Mary. Who chooses to believe in the promise of the one who says, "I Am Whom I Am" (Exodus 3:14 RSV). In those five words are wrapped up the promise of I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU!

Only God can reveal this to you and me. How do I choose to live my life? Can my suffering be redemptive for someone else? Absolutely!!! Try it... When you are suffering say this. Jesus, Job and Mary. I am suffering. You all know suffering. Can I unite my suffering to you for the good of another? May God never abandon me in my suffering, Amen.

Today I know that I will never understand the meaning of the moment (unless God chooses to reveal that to me) but the moment will always have meaning.