Reflection:

These words occur towards the end of the Book of Job. A righteous man, Job suffered many troubles. He lost everything: his wealth, property, his children; even his skin became covered in ugly sores. His friends pitied him but blamed him for his troubles. ‘Surely Job, you must have done something to deserve your suffering’, they said. But Job had done nothing wrong; he remained faithful to God while his prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears. Had God abandoned him?

God’s answer expands Job’s world in a way he could never have predicted. God takes Job on a panoramic tour of the universe; to see it as God sees it and rejoice in its beauty, freedom and complexity. This world contains unimagined places and creatures. God also maintains order by placing limits on forces that could plunge the world into chaos: the Sea, its giant creatures, even human evil. Job learns that humans are not the centre of the world. We are invited to live in a beautiful world, that can also be unpredictable. Like Job, we enjoy a special place in creation while recognizing our limitations in controlling nature’s forces.

Prayer:  I pray for our neighbours in the Pacific who face the threat of rising tides and the possibility of loss of home and livelihood; for those forced to relocate. I pray for aid agencies, emergency workers, policy makers, leaders of local communities with responsibility for responding in times of crisis and for setting strategic directions. May I use whatever I have – time, resources, influence and energy – to support these efforts.