The question in today's 1st reading is something we are
tempted to ask ourselves, too. “Is the LORD in our midst or not?” Especially at
times when we are in a situation where it seems that nothing good is happening.
We know too well the answer to this question or do we not. When we are
confronted with trials and difficulties then there is a sudden shift or change
in the level of confidence in what we believe in. This should not be the case
but some things are easier said than done. Just like the Israelites who have
been delivered by God so many times in the past and have been bestowed with so
many wonders and miracles and yet they still are doubting and lacking in trust.
We are no different, I guess. When we find ourselves so focused on that one
disappointment or event that upsets us just like the Israelites then we tend to
forget all the other benefits that God has bestowed us. It is always best to
count our blessings rather than dwell on our so called "misfortunes".
We never really know what's in store for us but if we keep on trusting the Lord
we can be assured that God is there standing at our side, never will He leave
us hungry or thirsty. God's miracle is always before us that we have to be
conscious of and really believe, we need not see a stone gushing with water.
Amen. Hallelujah!
Exodus 17:3-7
...I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in
Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to
drink.” This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel . 7 The
place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and
tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?”
Today's psalm reading is used as a preparatory psalm in the
Liturgy of the Hours just as it was used in the Old Testament. Each time we
hear it, there is an emphasis to the fact that is just the same as it is
proclaimed today. During the time of Moses there had been an incident of great
rebellion and testing on the part of the chosen people of God. The same message
is being said to us because there is a possibility that we also harden our hearts
today. Massah means rebellion and Meribah means testing. It refers to the time
they rebel when they had no water. Moses struck the stone in the desert and
water came out. We can read in Numbers 13 when Moses sent out spies to check
out the promise land and when they returned in Numbers 14 they were full of
discouragement. They came back and reported that the Land of Canaan Canaan .
But the people believed the spies and concluded that it’s impossible to
overcome these barriers. They wanted to choose new leaders and kill Moses &
Aaron and go back to slavery in Egypt .
Due to their unbelief the whole generation never entered Canaan
only the new generation with both Joshua & Caleb did. The goal is to enter
into rest in the land of Canaan but they refused because they believed their
fears rather than believe what they’ve already seen in God’s miracles in Egypt . Psalm 95
is used so often in the Liturgy of the Hours and encourages us how today we
must listen well. They do not just apply to the people in Numbers 13 & 14.
It also applies to the Church and we consider ourselves the New Israel. Let God
call us to attention. We don’t have to fall back to the same sin of disbelief.
No matter how hard the world makes us do so. The Church is beginning to
experience persecution. Today we have to keep in mind what God already said in
the past especially as we hear the words of His Son today. Jesus Himself gives
us a greater authority than the prophets and the angels. When we look at our
day, there are a number of strains that we have to alert ourselves. There are New Age beliefs that everything is
God including the forces of nature. It is moving towards the act of depersonalizing
God by a vague force. It clouds the truth of God the Father, God the Son &
God the Spirit. There is this New Age notion vs. the Christian notion of God.
The catch here is the fact that there are no demands upon the faithful to be
obedient. A hardened heart is equivalent to disobedience. There is no longer a
clear distinction about the truths of the faith. It's just a matter of loving
nature and taking care of the environment. No other demands like obeying the 10
commandments. The truth is not existent with the New Age. They water down the
Person of Jesus and lead others to disbelieve in Him. Certain scholars deny Him
as a historical figure or is believed that He had a wife as depicted in the
fictitious Da Vinci Code. These are all things that are far from the authentic
gospel. The image of Jesus is being shaped to imitate our worst moments and
sins. It makes him appear like He is no better than we are and attack His moral
character. It is an act of impunity to God’s character as if He is just a
character of fiction. It looks like God is on the dock as C. S. Lewis put it.
Instead of us being on trial, God appears to be the one who’s on trial. Let us
not fall into this kind of thinking nor continue in our lack of faith or let
anything shake our faith. Some dogs are amazing in their ability to show
devotion and faithfulness although they do not even measure up to the dignity
and standing of human beings they are capable of obeying their master with so
much love and respect. This should make
us realize all the more can we do it and a whole lot better than that. We have
to make a decision to be with Christ. God is the Good Shepherd. He will not
scatter but draw people to holiness, righteousness and goodness. How can we be
lost or led astray? There are things we need to do if we want to be under the
care of the Good Shepherd, listen to His voice, follow His guiding hand and
stay within the circle of the flock He tends. The truth is that we should never
have any doubts about our decisions for as long as we know that it is all for
the glory of God first and foremost and everything else will follow. We have
this faith and confidence in God as in Philippians 4:6-8, "Have no anxiety
at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your
requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever
is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things." When someone speaks
to us we sometimes ignore, refuse to listen, simply pretend that we haven't
heard anything or misunderstood what we heard because we are too distracted or
busy to give time to listen well. Let us always open our hearts and mind so
that we become sensitive to the voice of God talking to us. Surely there were times when we heard and
experienced the voice of God giving us “out of this world” instructions and we
responded nonchalantly as if we never heard anything, refused outright and
rejected it. If before we just choose to do it whichever way we wanted it
without much thought from now on let us respond to God in the best way we can
with hearts full of love and obedience. When we grumbled and complained we all
know for a fact that it didn't make things any better. We would have to
practice more and make perfect the art of trusting and hearing God's voice. God
is never short of anything. God is God and He will always be. Let us no longer
confuse ourselves with the inaccuracies and discrepancies of our human hearts
and minds. Let us keep it focused on Him who is Holy and Perfect. Let us all
acculturate ourselves to the Kingdom
of God
Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
...For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds,
the flock he guides. (R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not
your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your
fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.”
God has planned it from the beginning of time that we are
His and He is for us. It would help if we would always think of what God did
for us. We never deserved any of the blessings we are enjoying today but it's
all because of God's grace and love. Nothing compares to the love that God has
for us. A love that goes beyond measure is what He offers to us. It should be
freely accepted without any pressure or force just like the way it was freely
given to us through His Son, Jesus. We need to be aware of it every single
moment of our lives. We are so blessed that His love for us surpasses all other
kinds of love we've ever known and we'll ever come to know. We may keep on
searching for the best kind of love but we'll just be disappointed if we look
for it in other than God Himself. For His love alone suffices. Everything
happens for a reason. Whatever the reason is we can be confident in the truth
that God loves us so much and hope that we will never be disappointed. As we
continue the process of living, dying and the hope of resurrecting, we the church of God
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained
access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the
glory of God. 5 Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that
has been given to us. 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at
the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die
for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage
to die. God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ
died for us.
Time will come when we would have to decide in the same way
that the Samaritans did in today's gospel. We can't forever stay in the same
frame of mind that is lacking in our faith in God. We need to boldly confess on
our own that we truly believe that Jesus is our Savior in words, thoughts and
deeds. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 4:5-42
...Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 42
and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we
have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the
world.”
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