Daily Retreat 08/04/09
2009 Aug 4 Tue:John Mary Vianney, p M
Nm 12:1-13/ Ps 50(51):3-4. 5-6ab. 6cd-7. 12-13/ Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2. 10-14
From today’s readings: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses.... Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.... Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water....”
Pretext of Complaints
It’s always easy enough to find something to complain about - even about the very best! Although Moses was “by far the meekest man on the face of the earth,” some of the Israelites accused him of lording it over them, and even his own brother and sister (perhaps driven by jealousy) find a flimsy excuse for speaking out against him.
Moses, of course, was only human, and therefore, not perfect - chapter 20 of the Book of Numbers will even mention an instance when Moses sinned and gave God Himself something to complain about! Still, Moses was clearly the leader God Himself had chosen for His people, and by all accounts, he did a pretty good job of it. So, the Israelites could have and should have remained focused on the good qualities of Moses, instead of exacerbating the tensions of their precarious situation by finding something to complain about Moses.
Now it’s thousands of years later, but little has changed in this matter! Pope Benedict XVI is the leader God has chosen for His people at this time, and some people have been voicing complaints about him - often enough, their complaints are based on misconstrued interpretations of clearly articulated positions. Even so, admittedly, the Pope is only human, so he’s bound to make mistakes at times. Yet, Benedict, like his predecessor John Paul the Great, is doing his “job” quite well - enthusiastically evangelizing the whole world. It’s always easy to find something to complain about, even about the leaders God Himself chooses! But for those who just open their eyes to the blessings God gives through His chosen ones, the reasons for giving thanks to God far outweigh the pretexts for complaints!
Nm 12:1-13/ Ps 50(51):3-4. 5-6ab. 6cd-7. 12-13/ Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2. 10-14
From today’s readings: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses.... Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.... Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water....”
Pretext of Complaints
It’s always easy enough to find something to complain about - even about the very best! Although Moses was “by far the meekest man on the face of the earth,” some of the Israelites accused him of lording it over them, and even his own brother and sister (perhaps driven by jealousy) find a flimsy excuse for speaking out against him.
Moses, of course, was only human, and therefore, not perfect - chapter 20 of the Book of Numbers will even mention an instance when Moses sinned and gave God Himself something to complain about! Still, Moses was clearly the leader God Himself had chosen for His people, and by all accounts, he did a pretty good job of it. So, the Israelites could have and should have remained focused on the good qualities of Moses, instead of exacerbating the tensions of their precarious situation by finding something to complain about Moses.
Now it’s thousands of years later, but little has changed in this matter! Pope Benedict XVI is the leader God has chosen for His people at this time, and some people have been voicing complaints about him - often enough, their complaints are based on misconstrued interpretations of clearly articulated positions. Even so, admittedly, the Pope is only human, so he’s bound to make mistakes at times. Yet, Benedict, like his predecessor John Paul the Great, is doing his “job” quite well - enthusiastically evangelizing the whole world. It’s always easy to find something to complain about, even about the leaders God Himself chooses! But for those who just open their eyes to the blessings God gives through His chosen ones, the reasons for giving thanks to God far outweigh the pretexts for complaints!
posted by FrPitstick | 7/25/2009
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