In the first reading, Job is likened to a plaintiff who wishes to haul God to court. However, he does not stand a chance for God is both the defendant and the judge. In the face of God's awesome creative power, Job feels a sense of helplessness and confusion. He does not know what to do or say that would make any difference to the verdict. There is no way he can win. The psalmist of the day expresses his fear of death and the sense of oblivion that will follow as a result. Frightened, he cries out to God and tries to cleverly remind God that only those who are living can remember and celebrate God's wonders and justice.

The Gospel gives us examples of the illusions of discipleship. The individual who offers himself with total availability will find himself or herself less secure than the foxes and the birds. The person who is called, but wants to take care of the burial of a parent, will become spiritually dead. The one who wishes to follow, but turns back to bid farewell, is reminded that God's call is more urgent than that. If there is a common message that flows through the readings, it is that if we are not careful before God, we may find ourselves helpless, frightened and disillusioned. God can strip us of our sense of self security, invincibility and certainty. In other words, if we think we can carelessly challenge God, attempt to be smarter than Him, or offer ourselves to Him at our convenience, we do so at our own peril. God is not fooled!