B: 12th Sun of Ord Time (20 June 2021) - OUT OF THE STORM (Job 38:1, 8-11)

One popular scene in the Old Testament is when God spoke to Elijah in the form of a gentle breeze (1 Kgs 19:13). Instead of communicating through a “strong and violent wind” (v. 11a), a powerful earthquake (v. 11b), a huge fire (v. 12a), or any spectacular supernatural phenomenon, God chose a “light silent sound” (v. 12b) to be his medium in informing his presence before Elijah. The latter was in the ebbs of his prophetic ministry, being pursued by Queen Jezebel, who had just executed by the sword all his colleagues and had vowed to kill him by the morrow (v. 2). Alone and scared in Mt. Horeb, Elijah hid himself and was at the verge of losing hope, praying even for his speedy death (v. 4). But God comforted him there, encouraging him to move on amidst all the troubles along the way (vv. 15-18).

Our first reading today also presents another biblical character who was at the lowest state of his life. It is Job, who had just received the most difficult trials in the world, viz., his herds along with his servants were either stolen or killed (Job 1:14-17), his sons and daughters died in a catastrophic accident (v. 18), and he even contracted “severe boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head” (2:7). Adding insult to injury, his wife nagged on him, tempting him to abandon God on account of his predicament (v. 9). Indeed, Job was at the verge of despair, losing his faith in God and wishing even that he were not born (3:3). What followed was a long conversation with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who fed him also with disheartening words and even questions concerning the unfair ways of God (Job 4–37). Thus, Job suffered further, both physically and emotionally, and was not cured of his ailment.

In this setting, God entered the scene, who came “out of the storm” to reply to Job’s questions (Job 38–41). God’s encouraging speech moved Job, triggering him to recant his doubts on God’s power and wisdom. Job humbly uttered, “I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.... I have spoken but did not understand.... but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:2-6). God readily restored Job’s health and blessed him with prosperity, giving him “twice as much as he had before” (v. 10), and making him live a happy and full life at 140 years of age (vv. 16-17).

What we can notice from these two stories concerning the great trials of Elijah and Job is God’s consistent accompanying presence that would give comfort and encouragement to anyone who suffers. Accordingly, God could enter any scene and under any circumstance, be it in a gentle breeze (1 Kgs 19:13) or a storm (Job 38:1). The important thing is that the person who is to encounter him is open enough to being converted and following God’s entrusted mission.

In our current context, the gentle breeze of the total banishment of the pandemic is far from being a reality, given our collective failure to achieve herd-immunity coupled by the ongoing mutation of the virus. We are all longing to reach the end of our suffering, but such is still dim at this point. Nonetheless, despite being still in the proverbial eye of the storm, we are assured that God is with us and is on top of things. As he appeared to Job from the storm, he also comforts us in our predicament. We just need to continue to believe in his everlasting presence.

- Rex Fortes, CM