the faith of job
"I know that my Vindicator lives." —Job 19:25
Job saw in one day the tragic deaths of all ten of his children (Jb 1:18-19). Earlier that day, three of his businesses collapsed, and he was reduced to poverty (Jb 1:14-17). Then Job became seriously ill (Jb 2:7). His wife told him to "curse God and die" (Jb 2:9), and his friends said it was all Job's fault (e.g. Jb 4:8).
Amid these overwhelming circumstances, Job made an astounding act of faith. He said: "As for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that He will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another's, shall behold Him, and from my flesh I shall see God" (Jb 19:25, 27, 26). Job knew that his Redeemer lived. This may have been a prophetic prefigurement of Jesus, our Redeemer.
Because of Handel's Messiah, Job's act of faith has been sung for centuries and has become part of the collective consciousness of Western civilization. Deep down, despite everything, we know that our Redeemer lives. We must walk (2 Cor 5:7) and live (see Gal 2:20) by this faith, rather than give in to the deep-seated despair which also seems to be a part of Western culture's consciousness.
Jesus is giving us the grace to believe in Him, even if we feel as if we're being crucified. Profess with Job: "I know that my Redeemer lives."
Prayer: Father, give me faith to move (Mt 17:20) and climb mountains.
Promise: "The harvest is rich but the workers are few; therefore ask the Harvest-Master to send workers to His harvest." —Lk 10:2
Praise: Tony had no money to pay his bills when he was laid off. He refused to panic, and believed God would provide. On the day his bills were due, three separate individuals visited him to pay off old debts, which totalled the amount of what he owed.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 2, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 1996