Reflection on Today's Readings, 26th Week in Ordinary Time Year II and the Memorial of St. Jerome, September 30th, 2020
Texts: Job 9:1-12.14-16; Ps. 88:10-15; Luke 9:57-62
Today that we celebrate and honour a saint, St. Jerome, Job asks the question: "How can a man be just before God?" If a man cannot be just before God, then how can we talk of a saint? This brings to mind the words of St. Paul: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:23-24). He also says, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Rom. 3:28). Job says we cannot contend with God because he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. The greatness of God manifests in the demand of his justice and holiness. The demand of God's justice and holiness is so great that it is beyond human strength; it can only be satisfied by his grace which is given through Christ's redemptive prize.
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, asks us to follow him so as to stand justified before God, his Father. Following Jesus Christ entails loving him above all things and his creation for his own sake; neither wealth nor human relation should be the conditions for following him. Hence, Jesus told the first man that he had no where to lay his head; this brings to mind the life of poverty. He told the second man that his duty to his father should not be a barrier in following him; and the third man that relationship should not distract him.
Dear friends, sainthood is the product of God's gift and one's commitment to loving God unconditionally. Hence, today we celebrate the gift of God in the life of St. Jerome and honour him for his love of God. He showed his love for God through life of asceticism and devotion to God's words. He is often remembered for saying, "Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
Pope Benedict XV says, "Jerome still calls to us. His voice rings out, telling us of the supreme excellence of the Holy Scripture, of its integral character and historical trustworthiness, telling us, too, of the pleasant fruits resulting from reading and meditating upon it. His voice summons all the Church's children to return to a truly Christian standard of life, to shake themselves free from the pagan type of morality which seems to have sprung to life again in these days" (cf. Word of Eternal Life, vol.2, p.271). We are to learn from St. Jerome life of penance for our sins and devotion to God's words.
Lord God, we thank you for justifying us by your grace, help us to love you unconditionally that we may obtain the grace of sainthood. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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