Daily Retreat 08/03/09
2009 Aug 3 Mon:Ordinary Weekday
Nm 11:4b-15/ Ps 80(81):12-13. 14-15. 16-17/ Mt 14:13-21
From today’s readings:“Now we are famished; we see nothing before us but this manna.... Sing with joy to God our help.... Give them some food yourselves.... ”
The Fourth Book of the Bible
The Book of Numbers, like Leviticus, is not the easier section of Sacred Scripture to read through from the first to the last chapter. But this fourth book of the Bible is actually more like Exodus, because the Book of Numbers combines a register of Jewish laws with a narrative of history, recounting the wandering Israelites’ trek through the desert from Mt. Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, over a period of about 38 years!
This book of 36 chapters can be divided into three sections. The first part, 1:1-10:10, begins with the census of the Israelites (this “numbering,” in fact, accounts for the book’s rather drab title) and includes the other final activities in the Sinai region. The second part, 10:11-22:1, relates the departure from Sinai and some of the major subsequent events during the wanderings through the wilderness. Finally, the third part, 22:2-36:13, recounts what took place on the plains of Moab as the Israelites finally approached the border of the Promised Land.
The complaints of the Israelites mentioned in today’s first reading probably sound a bit familiar (cf. readings and reflection for July 22). The Israelites moaned about their slavery in Egypt, and God rescued them from their bondage. Then they moaned about their hunger, and God gave them manna. They grumbled about their thirst, and God gave them water from the rock. They murmured about the monotony of their diet of manna, and God gave them more meat than they could stomach (cf. 11:20).
Now clearly, in all these cases, the Israelites were saddled with very real hardships and sufferings, and so it was justifiable for them to turn to God for help and relief, but that’s not what they did! Read the texts again, and note that the Israelites were not praying to God about their needs, they were just complaining bitterly among themselves! It was Moses who re-voiced their complaints in prayer - often, his prayer was peppered with his own complaints, but at least it was prayer, turning to God for mercy, instead of just festering in self-pity.
When you and I are faced with hardships and sufferings, we can either complain, bemoan, begrudge, and wallow in our woes, or we can turn to God in prayer, asking Him for what we truly need: strength to bear our crosses, friends to share our crosses, and most of all, our Lord to take care of our crosses....
Nm 11:4b-15/ Ps 80(81):12-13. 14-15. 16-17/ Mt 14:13-21
From today’s readings:“Now we are famished; we see nothing before us but this manna.... Sing with joy to God our help.... Give them some food yourselves.... ”
The Fourth Book of the Bible
The Book of Numbers, like Leviticus, is not the easier section of Sacred Scripture to read through from the first to the last chapter. But this fourth book of the Bible is actually more like Exodus, because the Book of Numbers combines a register of Jewish laws with a narrative of history, recounting the wandering Israelites’ trek through the desert from Mt. Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, over a period of about 38 years!
This book of 36 chapters can be divided into three sections. The first part, 1:1-10:10, begins with the census of the Israelites (this “numbering,” in fact, accounts for the book’s rather drab title) and includes the other final activities in the Sinai region. The second part, 10:11-22:1, relates the departure from Sinai and some of the major subsequent events during the wanderings through the wilderness. Finally, the third part, 22:2-36:13, recounts what took place on the plains of Moab as the Israelites finally approached the border of the Promised Land.
The complaints of the Israelites mentioned in today’s first reading probably sound a bit familiar (cf. readings and reflection for July 22). The Israelites moaned about their slavery in Egypt, and God rescued them from their bondage. Then they moaned about their hunger, and God gave them manna. They grumbled about their thirst, and God gave them water from the rock. They murmured about the monotony of their diet of manna, and God gave them more meat than they could stomach (cf. 11:20).
Now clearly, in all these cases, the Israelites were saddled with very real hardships and sufferings, and so it was justifiable for them to turn to God for help and relief, but that’s not what they did! Read the texts again, and note that the Israelites were not praying to God about their needs, they were just complaining bitterly among themselves! It was Moses who re-voiced their complaints in prayer - often, his prayer was peppered with his own complaints, but at least it was prayer, turning to God for mercy, instead of just festering in self-pity.
When you and I are faced with hardships and sufferings, we can either complain, bemoan, begrudge, and wallow in our woes, or we can turn to God in prayer, asking Him for what we truly need: strength to bear our crosses, friends to share our crosses, and most of all, our Lord to take care of our crosses....
posted by FrPitstick | 7/25/2009
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