Feast of St. Jerome (Hieronymus)

The Catholic Church is rather busy these days, celebrating one saint after another. Today is the Feast Day of St. Jerome (331-420 AD). He is most remembered for translating the Bible from the original languages (Hebrew and Greek) into Latin, the Vulgate which had been the only Bible accepted by the Roman Catholics for many centuries. Though he led a hermetic life, he did not hesitate to combat against heretics with his sharp tongue. He is the patron saint of librarians.
We will be reading the book of Job for two days. The book of Job is one of the Jewish wisdom writings. In the English language, we owe an idiom "As patient as Job" to the hero of this book. However, it is a total misrepresentation of Job. Job is anything but a patient victim of undeserved evils. He challenged the traditional Jewish teaching that the good would be rewarded and sinners punished. Job needed to defend his own innocence. He suffered calamities for no fault of his own. His friends came to console him. Yet they followed the traditional Jewish wisdom and debated with Job, arguing that Job must have done some evils. Otherwise, his sufferings would be inexplicable.
Suffering is a mystery. People suffer from the consequences of evils done by themselves or by others or simply by sheer misfortune. The good rewarded and evil punished is the simplest logic which is subscribed by most people. However, in reality, the good is not rewarded and evil not punished. The case of Job was even worse. Now, the good is being punished instead! Jewish traditional wisdom is muted. Job the innocent called up the supreme God to pass judgment on him. The Jews are really a rebellious people. They dare to question God and Job was not alone. Abraham questioned the justice of God when God intended to destroy the good together with the bad in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
In his great pain, Job desired his own non-existence. Death is the great equalizer which swallows up both kings and beggars. It is also the great liberator for the suffering. In death, slaves and prisoners are free from their taskmasters.
The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master (Job 3:19).
Job was pitiful. His way was blocked and God was fighting against him. In such circumstances, death is truly more desirable than life. What is the point to survive when God has laid up a trap to ensnare you?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in? (Job 3:23)
In his miseries, Job's friends appeared to console him as well as to defend for God. Such an attempt revitalized Job. He stood to defend his own innocence and integrity.

My dear Advocate, Job has left us a heroic image of suffering innocence. In him, we find Jesus. May we turn our attention to God the Saviour. In the latter days, grant us strength to finish the mission You gave us. Amen.