Day 25: Job’s Questioning

Genesis 47:1-31 Joseph bought nearly all the privately owned land of Egypt for Pharaoh in exchange for feeding the starving Egyptians. As Jacob neared death, he had Joseph swear that his body would be buried outside of Egypt. (CCC 2150-2155)


Ch 48:1-22 The dying Jacob blessed Joseph’s two children, Ephraim and Manasseh, and adopted them as two of his own sons. They would form TWO of the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL that would eventually be granted land in Canaan. Jacob had twelve sons, and with Joseph’s sons becoming the patriarchs of two tribes, there would have been thirteen tribes; however, the priestly tribe of Levi would not receive their own land since they had the unique mission to serve the Twelve Tribes of Israel. (CCC 1080-1083, 2626-2627)


Ch 48:12-20 This description suggests a formalized adoption rite. By adopting Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob made them his own sons, and they would be numbered among the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Analogous to Jacob’s own story of obtaining Esau’s birthright, Jacob gave the greater blessing to the younger of the two boys. God uses seemingly INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS to accomplish his will. (CCC 2373)


Ch 48:16 By Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob invoked HIS ANGEL, whom God had sent to redeem him.


ANGELS ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS sent by God to guard and guide individuals (cf. Acts 12:7-8, 11, 15; Jdt 13:20) and nations (cf. Ex 14:19; Bar 6:6) as well as to intercede for them (cf. Tb 12:13). The Church has feast days in honor of and encourages devotion to the holy angels as well as prayer for their intercession. 


Job 39:1-30 God brought to Job’s attention how the behavior and actions of the animals is not influenced by any human being; rather, they reflect God’s power over all creation. (CCC 299-301)


Psalm 16: God is infinite goodness and, therefore, the source of everlasting life and all that is good. False idols, ESPECIALLY RICHES AND SENSUALITY, deceptively give the allure of happiness, but in reality God is the ONLY GOOD that can satisfy the human person. The psalmist may have been a priest since he spoke of having the Lord as his portion, his cup, and his heritage. Recall that the Promised Land was divided among the various tribes of Israel, but no “portion” of the land was assigned to the Levites; they dwelled among ALL THE TRIBES and gave priestly service, possessing properties within each region where they lived. Because they were exclusively dedicated to God’s service, God was their only heritage. My body also...the Pit: This is a prophetic reference to Christ, who was not left in Sheol but was raised from the dead on the third day. The Church teaches that during those three days Christ preached the news of salvation to the just who had died before him; this is referenced in the APOSTLE’S CREED: “He descended into hell.” (CCC 627)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)




Redemptive suffering is the Catholic belief that human suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with the Passion of Jesus Christ, can remit the just punishment for one's sins or for the sins of another, or for the other physical or spiritual needs of oneself or another.


“Do not fear, I will make you suffer, but I will also give you the strength to suffer,” Jesus tells me continually. “I want your soul to be purified and tried by a daily hidden martyrdom”. . .”How many times,” Jesus said to me a little while ago, “would you have abandoned me, my son, if I had not crucified you.” - Padre Pio  (*https://www.vaticansite.com/padre-pio-quotes-suffering/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CDo%20not%20fear%2C%20I%20will,I%20had%20not%20crucified%20you.%E2%80%9D )



Prayer by Fr. Mike: "Father in Heaven, we give you praise. We thank you for your Word. We thank you for your Will. We thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord God, the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament. And the Old Testament is revealed in the New. All this time we are spending in the Old Covenant, in the Old Testament, in the Hebrew Scriptures, we give you praise and we thank you because you are revealing to us that you work with us, that you want us to be your children. Help us to be your children every single day, no matter what, in rain, in sun, when we are suffering, and when we are rejoicing. Help us to always say yes to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen."