Today's Readings
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” Psalm 95: 8-9
We Can Be A Hard Headed People... As Hard As a Rock! Today's Psalmist sings of a very crucial moment in our faith journey as the people of God. He looks back to the time as we wandered with Moses in the desert, after being freed from the grips of slavery. It was during this part of our journey (at Meribah and Massah) when we got fed up! We were thirsty, walking day after day in the sand, under a hot sun, saying, "I don't know about you, but I think we had it better back in Egypt!". In spite of that grumbling, Moses went to bat for us asking God to DO something! God replied with heaps of manna and quail to eat! We still grumbled. "This stuff tastes like a sponge, and quail? Everyone knows that it is served with a nice white wine and plum sauce. Do we have that? No! Besides, we've got all of this food, but there's nothing to drink, not even water!" So I'm sure, rolling his eyes, Moses, asked for water! (Read all about this in Exodus 17)
Does any of this sound familiar? Are we ever really satisfied? Once we get one thing, or achieve another, aren't we the type to want more? I mean, my iPad is just not fast enough anymore, and I'm three generations behind. I NEED another one! Our country's leadership has decided that we need to avoid a "fiscal cliff" and get a hold on our spending. Meanwhile, as the bill cuts a few items here and there, and taxes rise a little to make things fair, the plan increases the spending on a project nobody knows about in the district of a politician who "needs a little more" to ensure his or her vote. Another reason to avoid pork!
Is It Possible That Water Would Flow From That Rock? The short answer is YES. We all know that with God all things are possible, and we have seen that when God is put to the test, he always responds, and does so with a consequence! In the case of Moses and us grumbling wanderers, we get our water! But our leader Moses and his brother Aaron, must endure the penalty for their doubting and our "B'n & Moaning", as they don't get to go into the Promise Land. That's right. They suffered because of our actions, or in this case inaction. The Lord requested that we simply follow the plan and trust in His love. Did we? (Read all about this in Numbers 20)
Take This Advice: Just Listen, and Do What He Says! Today's Gospel is similar in nature. A man, understandably dissatisfied with having leprosy, asks Jesus for healing. Feeling for the man's illness, Christ heals him, and adds this condition: Tell no one of this healing, but simply go show yourself to the priests (as was the custom set forth in Leviticus 14:2). Guess what he did? HE TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE PRIESTS! Argh! The consequence? Jesus couldn't heal another soul around, because now they saw Him as a rock-star magician, and not the Savior. (Read all about it in Mark 1: 40-45)
On behalf of all humanity, please do me a favor today. Figure out what God is asking of you, even if its something really minor like being nice to that guy that drives you crazy, and JUST DO IT! Don't tell anyone that you did. Don't blog about it as a meaningful moment in your life today. Just be nice to that guy, or do whatever it is you are called to do, today, tomorrow and from now on! I'm thinking that your actions will speak for themselves, and all will begin to understand that the peace of Christ is at work IN you and all around you!
Harden not your hearts my friends, and do great things, especially when no one is looking!
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