Jonathan Fessenden, theologian and editor of Missio Dei, and I discussed this ancient and supremely interesting book on his podcast. The Book of Job is one of the oldest poems in our tradition. It is a joy to read and a puzzle to wonder about: why does God allow—even provoke—the Accuser to destroy Job’s life and test his faith? What does it mean for us when things are not going the way we hope? What is this troubled world, this vale of tears, for in the first place?

• The video of our discussion of The Book of Job on the Missio Dei website and on YouTube
• Jonathan Fessenden’s bio on Missio Dei
• The Book of Job on the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops) webpage
• The Book of Job (NABRE) on Bible Gateway
• Professor Wesley Morrison, “God’s Answer to Job” (Cambridge University Press, 1996)
• Bishop Barron’s sermon “Why Is Life So Full of Suffering” (2022)
• Professors Sommers and Pizarro discussion on Job, “How Do You Solve a Problem like Theodicy?” on Very Bad Wizards (2019)
• Jonathan Fessenden’s, on Almost Good Catholics, episode 37: Catholic Movies, Pt. 1: Silence and The Scarlet and the Black.
• Jonathan Fessenden’s, on Almost Good Catholics, episode 49: Catholic Movies, Pt. 2: The Mission and A Man for All Seasons.

Krzysztof Odyniec is a historian of Medieval and Early Modern Europe; he is also the host of the 'Almost Good Catholics' podcast.

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