A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Job 42:1-6

This passage depicts Job’s repentance and restoration. He confesses his lack of knowledge before the God who knows all things. Job affirms that God is still able to bring him comfort and assurance even when Job could not understand the origin and purpose of his current struggles. For a moment, in the depth of his crisis, Job doubted and misunderstood God. For this sin, Job despises himself and repents in dust and ashes. Fortunately, Job is able to recenter himself before God and, in faith, open himself to whatever God has in store for him. Once again, Job is able to see the holiness of God’s ways through the eyes of faith.

  1. Does God know more than us? Why or why not?

  2. Describe a situation where your lack of knowledge caused you to question God’s plan and purpose for your life?

  3. What does it feel like when you do not understand the origin and purpose of your life struggles?

  4. Is it a sin to doubt and misunderstand God? Explain.

  5. Are we open to whatever God has in store for us or do we give God guide rails on what he can or can not do with our life?

  6. What does recentering yourself before God look like?

  7. Suggest a few practical steps you can take to help you see the holiness of God’s ways through the eyes of faith.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Peter exhorts the community of faith to live as if they were born again. He reminds them that in Jesus Christ they have been given a new birth. They have a living hope which is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They are the recipients of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for them. They are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Therefore, Peter encourages them to rejoice, even if now for a little while they have had to suffer various trials. He explains that the purpose of their current struggles is to bring about the genuineness of their faith. Such faith is more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire and made stronger and much more beautiful. Therefore, the followers of Jesus Chirst should be filled with praise and glory and honor. Peter appreciates the fact that while some of them have not personally seen Jesus, they still love him and believe in him. Such faith grants believers an indescribable and glorious joy.

  1. What does it practically mean to live as if we were born again?

  2. In what way does a relationship with Jesus Christ give us an experience of new birth?

  3. What is your hope rooted in? Why does rootedness matter?

  4. Fill in the blank: We are protected by ________ through ________ for ________ to be revealed ________. What implications does this statement have for your life?

  5. Is it really possible to rejoice in the midst of suffering? Explain.

  6. How is “rejoicing in suffering” different from “glorifying suffering”?

  7. What is the purpose of our current struggles?

  8. Why does Peter draw a correlation between gold and the formation of faith?

  9. Give an example of how you have shown your love for Jesus?

Isaiah 43:8-13

This passage points to the absolute nature of God’s power. God calls a spade a spade and makes no bones about it. God challenges those who have chosen to reject him; he implores them to defend their choice to worship other gods. So direct and piercing is this call to accountability that God invites the blind to testify to what they have seen and the deaf to testify to what they have heard. Imagine any litigant depending on the blind to testify to what they have seen and the deaf to what they have heard! God invites the doubters to bring as many witnesses as they wish to justify their rejection of him. Be forewarned though, God has his own witnesses also. They will testify to the truth; they will courageously share their personal experience of God’s power at work in their lives. We are left with God’s absolute claim to power: “You are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the Lord. I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is no one who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?”

  1. What is absolute power, and do you think that God has absolute power?

  2. Is it politically correct to say that God has absolute power? Explain.

  3. What gods beside God (Father, son, and holy spirit) are we worshiping today?

  4. If you were called to court to testify, then would your thoughts, words and deeds be a witness for God’s power or a witness against it?

  5. Is there salvation outside of Jesus Christ?

  6. Does our culture today make space for absolutes? Explain.

John 14:1-7

This passage unfolds just before Jesus’ departure. He calms the troubled hearts of his followers by exhorting them to trust him and keep their hope in him alive no matter what he will suffer going forward. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus pleads with them to not let the trails of this world disorient them but to remain confident that they know the way forward. Yet, Thomas asks Jesus: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” The path forward is Jesus, and Jesus will always be with us no matter what.

  1. How would you feel if someone you cared about and loved was departing this life?

  2. What can we do to keep hope alive when we are suffering?

  3. Describe a moment in your life when the ways of the world disoriented you and you lost your way?

  4. What steps can we take to avoid being disoriented and to continue moving in the right direction?

  5. Jesus stated that he is the way, the truth and the life. What does this practically mean?

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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