Saturday, week 26 in Ordinary Time

    Job addressed the Lord and said:
    “I know that you can do everything
and that no plan of yours is impossible.
    Who is this that distorts your plans
without understanding anything?
In fact, I have spoken without understanding,
of wonders beyond me, which I did not know.
    I had heard of you by hearsay,
but now my eyes have seen you.
    That is why I retract what I said and repent
in dust and ashes.”

    The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life
even more than the beginning.
Job had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels,
one thousand pairs of oxen and one thousand female donkeys.
    He also had seven sons and three daughters.
    He named the first Jemimah,
the second Keziah,
and the third Keren-happuch.
    Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful
as the daughters of Job.
Their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.
    After this, Job lived for a hundred and forty years,
and saw his children and his children’s children—
four generations.
    And Job died, old and full of days.

            – The word of the Lord.

Teach me to understand well and to judge well:
I trust in your will.
It was for my good that I suffered,
and so, I have learned your commandments.

Lord, I know it, your decisions are just;
you are faithful when you test me.
To this day, the world stands firm by your decisions:
everything is your servant.

I am your servant, enlighten me:
I will know your demands.
Deciphering your word brings light
and the simple understand.

At that time,
    the 72 disciples whom Jesus had sent
returned full of joy, saying:
“Lord, even the demons
are subject to us in your name.”
    Jesus said to them:
“I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
    See, I have given you authority
to trample on snakes and scorpions,
and over all the power of the Enemy;
absolutely nothing will harm you.
    However, do not rejoice
because the spirits are subject to you;
but rejoice
because your names are written in heaven.”

    At that very hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit,
and said:
“Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
I praise you:
what you have hidden from the wise and learned,
you have revealed to little ones.
Yes, Father, this is what you have graciously willed.
    All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father;
and no one knows who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

    Then he turned to his disciples
and said to them privately:
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!
    For I tell you:
many prophets and kings
desired to see what you see,
and did not see it,
to hear what you hear,
and did not hear it.”

            – The Gospel of the Lord.