My grandchildren are a constant source of delight. I love to marvel as their personality emerges, each with unique gifts and quirks. There is a stage when seemingly every response in a conversation starts with “yeah, but” as they practice making their case. “Yeah, but” quickly blurs into a new word, yabut, that peppers our discussion without them ever noticing. Contemplating today’s readings, I could not help but hear all those yabuts.

Job is presenting his case, as a lawyer would, arguing that no one can be justified before God. The wise, mighty, awe-inspiring yet unapproachable God of Job renders him speechless and leaves him questioning whether God would even hear his words. In contrast, the incarnate Word is surrounded by people in today’s Gospel. Jesus is seemingly powerless, without a place to lay his head. He engages in conversation with those who would follow him, responding to each of their statements by challenging them to a deeper commitment to the reign of God already present. Jesus declares that the kingdom’s immediacy does not allow for delayed action. Its priority demands that followers set aside even worthy endeavors in favor of proclaiming the kingdom.
We often feel compelled to make our case, to argue for our perspective, to explain our point of view. Hence, all the yabuts we insert into our speech, our thinking, and our life. It is a scaffolding that protects our ego but can separate us both from each other and from God, without ever noticing that it is happening.
Agnes M. Kovacs

Agnes M. Kovacs is a religious educator, workshop leader, and author who works at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.


[CREDIT]   Agnes M. Kovacs, from the September 2026 issue of Give Us This Day, www.giveusthisday.org (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2026). Used with permission.