To the Editor:
In response to Father Bud Grant’s opinion article on “The Book of Job” (Feb. 15), I present the following for your readers’ discernment:
Fr. Grant: “I’ve never liked the book of Job. I admire its intricate structure and theatrics, but it’s theology? … As a theodicy (explaining why God allows suffering), the book of Job is a failure…”
Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written. The Second Vatican Council indicates there are three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Spirit that inspired it. (111)
1. “Be especially attentive to the content and unity of the whole Scripture…. (112)
2. “Read the Scripture within the living Tradition of the whole Church…. (113)
3. “Be attentive to the analogy of faith. By analogy of faith we mean the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.” (114)
“All Sacred Scripture is but one book, and that one book is Christ, because all divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ. (134)
Fr. Grant: “Unless we understand this very ancient fable … as a rich soliloquy by God who created nature as a self-sustaining system, prior to any concern for human happiness or sorrow.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church: “God created everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him.” (358)
St. John Chrysostom: “What is it that is about to be created, that enjoys such honor? It is man, that great and wonderful living creature, more precious in the eyes of God than all other creatures! For him the heavens and the earth, the sea and all the rest of creation exist.”
Brian McDonald
Solon
