First Reading

Reading from the Book of Job

Job 9, 1-12. 14-16

Job took the floor and said to his friends:
«I know very well that man
cannot make his cause prevail against God.
If man were to bring a lawsuit against him,
of a thousand charges God might bring against him, he could not reject a single one.
God’s heart is wise and his strength is immense.

Who has ever faced him and come out triumphant?
In an instant he uproots the mountains
and shakes the hills with his wrath;
he makes the whole earth tremble
and shakes it from its foundations.
It is enough for him to give an order and the sun goes out;
he hides the stars when he wishes;
he alone stretched out the heavens
and walks upon the surface of the sea.
He created all the constellations of the sky:
the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades and those seen in the south;
he performs incomprehensible wonders, marvels without number.

When he passes by me, I do not see him;
when he moves away from me, I do not feel him.
If he seizes something, who can stop him?
Who can say to him: ‘What are you doing?’

If God calls me to judgment,
how could I refute his actions?
Even if I were right, I would have no choice
but to implore his mercy.
If I were to summon him to judgment and he appeared,
I do not believe he would listen to my reasons».

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 9, 57-62

At that time, while Jesus and his disciples were on their way, someone said to him: «I will follow you wherever you go». Jesus answered him: «Foxes have dens and birds have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head».

To another, Jesus said: «Follow me». But he replied: «Lord, let me first go and bury my father». Jesus answered him: «Let the dead bury their dead. You go and proclaim the Kingdom of God».

Another said to him: «I will follow you, Lord; but first let me say goodbye to my family». Jesus answered him: «No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God».