Today’s first reading is from Exodus 2:5-10

Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and seeing the ark among the reeds, she sent a maid to get it. So when she opened it, she saw the child crying, and the daughter of Pharaoh had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall we go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” So Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” Then the maiden went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. Now when the boy was grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

In today’s reading we can see the hand of God guiding Moses’ life, protecting him, bringing his mother even to nurse him as though she were simply an anonymous midwife. A Latin hymn-writer from the fourth century, Prudentius, wrote this hymn in her honor:

Thus Moses in a former age escaped proud Pharaoh’s foolish law, and as the savior of his race prefigured Christ who was to come. A cruel edict had been passed, forbidding Hebrew mothers all, when sons were born to them, to rear these virile pledges of their love. Devoutly scornful of the king, a zealous midwife found a way to hide her charge and keep him safe for future glory and renown.

Today’s second reading is from Job 1:13-22.

Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother; and behold, a messenger came to Job and said, “The yokes of oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were feeding beside them, then raiders came and took them captive, and killed the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said to Job, “Fire came from heaven and burned up the sheep and likewise consumed the shepherds; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Horsemen formed three bands against us, surrounded the camels, took them captive, and killed the servants with the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine with their elder brother, and suddenly a great wind came from the desert and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on your children, and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved off the hair of his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. As it seemed good to the Lord, so also it came to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all these things that happened, Job did not sin against the Lord or charge God with folly.

Job’s reaction to suffering tremendous loss is nothing short of astounding. While he acknowledges God to be the provider, he also acknowledges him to be sovereign Lord over every decision. He is the quintessential example of patient endurance. St. Basil the Great writes:

Be perfectly assured of this, that though the reasons for what is ordained by God are beyond us, yet always what is arranged for us by him who is wise and who loves us is to be accepted, be it ever so grievous to endure. He himself knows how he is appointing what is best for each, and why the terms of life that he fixes for us are unequal. Their exists some reason incomprehensible to us why some are carried far away from us and some are left a longer while behind, to bear the burdens of this painful life. So we should always adore his loving-kindness and not express discontent, remembering those great and famous words of the great athlete, Job, when he had seen ten children at one table, in one short moment, crushed to death: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. As the Lord thought good, so it came to pass.” Let us adopt those marvelous words.

In every event of our life, we see the hand of God’s loving-kindness. As we approach the time of the Lord’s voluntary Passion, let us submit to the sovereign will of God, saying, “Glory to God for all things!” Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.