A REFLECTION ON THE DAILY OFFICE READINGS

Exodus 32:1-20

Impatience is the breeding ground for idolatry. When ‘Plan A’ unfolds in a way that is different from our expectations, there a tendency to jump to ‘Plan B’ prematurely. This is what happened to the people of Israel. ‘Plan A’ was for them to trust God to provide for their needs and lead them as they journeyed forward. However, when the people realized that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us.” The people of Israel knew that Moses had played an vital role in bringing them out of the land of Egypt but now they did not know for sure what had become of him. Aaron found himself betwee a rock and a hard place. On one hand, Aaron knew that he should remain faithful to ‘Plan A’ in trusting the Lord to provide and lead them. However, one the other hand, Aaron did not know for sure how to explain Moses’ delay and the people were clamouring for someone or something to guide them. What would we have done if we were in Arson’s shoes? Can you remember a time when you were caught between a rock and a hard place? What was that like, and how did you respond?

In Aaron’s case, he decided to scrap ‘Plan A’ and move on to ‘Plan B’. He said to the Israelites, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord." Even if Aron might have been hesitant at first, he was now so deep into ‘Plan B’ that ‘Plan A’ seemed like a distant memory.

Seeing how the Israelites abandoned God for a golden calf made God angry. God had every intention to destroy the Israelites and no one could have blamed God. Yet, Moses implored God to have mercy on them. God changed his mind, and decided to have mercy on them. How have we angered God by our thoughts, words, and deeds? Who has pleaded with God on our behalf so that we could be given a second chance?

What I find so intriguing is that the Moses who asked God to control his temper and show mercy to the Israelites is the same Moses who lost his temper and punished the Israelites himself. We are told that, when Moses came down the mountain with the ten commandments (on tablets of stone), he saw the gold calf and the people dancing around it and worshipping it. This angered Moses so much that he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Moses then took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. In what ways have we expected others to show mercy but then failed to be merciful ourselves? How have we lost our temper with others and destroyed the good things (the tablets of ten commandments) that God has given us? In what ways are we hypocritical or follow a double standard? 

Colossians 3:18-4:6

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. Employees, obey your earthly employers in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your employer, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the evil employer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality. Employers, treat your employees justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Boss (God) in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. Conduct yourselves wisely toward strangers and outsiders, making the most of the time that they are around you. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Matthew 5:1-10

Click here: Song about Beatitudes

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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