Daily Retreat 07/22/09
2009 Jul 22 Wed:Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord M
Ex 16:1-5. 9-15/ Ps 77(78):18-19. 23-24. 25-26. 27-28/ Jn 20:1-2. 11-18
From today’s readings:“This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.... The Lord gave them bread from Heaven.... On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning....”
Grumble, grumble
You and I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites in Egypt, to first endure the slavery there for so long, then to be led out of Egypt by Moses after the ten plagues, then to be pursued by Pharaoh and his army, then to be miraculously led on dry land after the parting of the Red Sea, then to see the submersion of the Egyptian army. What an impression of God’s saving power those experiences must have left!
And yet, as soon as the Israelites resume their trek to the promised land, they forget the great things God has done for them, and they start grumbling - grumbling about lack of water, lack of food, about all their hardships. They go so far in their despair as to find themselves longing for the fleshpots of Egypt - they start convincing themselves that mindless slavery was preferable to freedom and the burdens of responsibility. Clearly, no one can deny that the Israelites had real needs in the wilderness, but rather than grumbling and complaining, they should have turned to God in faith, knowing that the One who had rescued them from slavery in Egypt would surely not abandon them to starvation in the desert!
I think you and I too often follow the Israelites’ bad example, because no matter how great an impression God’s grace left on us when He’s clearly come to our aid in the past, we nonetheless struggle to stand confidently in our faith that God will not abandon us in our present or future difficulties. But that’s the best thing we can do with the fears and struggles of this day - to face them all with the confident assurance and faith that God is with us as He has promised - and as long as His saving presence is with us, what is there to grumble about?
Ex 16:1-5. 9-15/ Ps 77(78):18-19. 23-24. 25-26. 27-28/ Jn 20:1-2. 11-18
From today’s readings:“This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.... The Lord gave them bread from Heaven.... On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning....”
Grumble, grumble
You and I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites in Egypt, to first endure the slavery there for so long, then to be led out of Egypt by Moses after the ten plagues, then to be pursued by Pharaoh and his army, then to be miraculously led on dry land after the parting of the Red Sea, then to see the submersion of the Egyptian army. What an impression of God’s saving power those experiences must have left!
And yet, as soon as the Israelites resume their trek to the promised land, they forget the great things God has done for them, and they start grumbling - grumbling about lack of water, lack of food, about all their hardships. They go so far in their despair as to find themselves longing for the fleshpots of Egypt - they start convincing themselves that mindless slavery was preferable to freedom and the burdens of responsibility. Clearly, no one can deny that the Israelites had real needs in the wilderness, but rather than grumbling and complaining, they should have turned to God in faith, knowing that the One who had rescued them from slavery in Egypt would surely not abandon them to starvation in the desert!
I think you and I too often follow the Israelites’ bad example, because no matter how great an impression God’s grace left on us when He’s clearly come to our aid in the past, we nonetheless struggle to stand confidently in our faith that God will not abandon us in our present or future difficulties. But that’s the best thing we can do with the fears and struggles of this day - to face them all with the confident assurance and faith that God is with us as He has promised - and as long as His saving presence is with us, what is there to grumble about?
posted by FrPitstick | 7/18/2009
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