Memorial of Saint Wenceslaus (†929), venerated as a martyr in Bohemia. Memorial of William Quijano, young Salvadorian man of the Community of Sant'Egidio, killed by the violence of the maras in 2009.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Job 1,6-22

One day when the sons of God came to attend on Yahweh, among them came Satan. So Yahweh said to Satan, 'Where have you been?' 'Prowling about on earth,' he answered, 'roaming around there.' So Yahweh asked him, 'Did you pay any attention to my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.' 'Yes,' Satan said, 'but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he? Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: then, I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.' 'Very well,' Yahweh said to Satan, 'all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.' So Satan left the presence of Yahweh. On the day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job. 'Your oxen', he said, 'were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side, when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.' He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The fire of God', he said, 'has fallen from heaven and burnt the sheep and shepherds to ashes: I alone have escaped to tell you.' He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The Chaldaeans,' he said, 'three bands of them, have raided the camels and made off with them, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.' He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'Your sons and daughters', he said, 'were eating and drinking at their eldest brother's house, when suddenly from the desert a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you.' Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then, falling to the ground, he prostrated himself and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I shall return again. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken back. Blessed be the name of Yahweh! In all this misfortune Job committed no sin, and he did not reproach God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

With today's passage we begin reading the book of Job. The first two chapters present Job as a man living an exemplary life: "A blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." The author shows the integrity and serenity of the life of a man who had made the "fear of God" the heart of all his actions. God himself rejoices in him and, almost with pride, speaks of Job with those who act as messengers to humanity, the "heavenly beings" (the angels), and especially Satan, "the adversary." The Lord rejoices at Job's goodness, but not Satan, who is annoyed by this righteous man, for whom everything seems to be going well. Is not just Job's well-being at the root of his faithfulness in God and his righteousness? Satan almost creeps between God and humanity to create doubts about the goodness, the joy, and the serenity of this righteous and God-fearing man. The evil one is envious of human good, the benevolent presence of God in history. His work seems to be to travel around the earth to cast doubt on those who do good, as is written in the First Letter of Peter: "Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith" (1 Pet 5:8-9). Will Job be able to resist evil? This is the question Satan asks the Lord. So Satan strikes Job through what he possesses in a crescendo of loss and suffering: first his loses all of his possessions and then his very sons and daughters. But Job does not curse God. He does not blame him for the evil that has struck him. Indeed his answer continues to amaze: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."