A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
This passage contains the words that Moses spoke to all Israel as they were camped on the great plains of Moab, able to see across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This was the land of Canaan that God promised them but which they had not occupied for 400 years. This passage reminds us to be faithful and exhorts us to be prepared even then life is frustrating and confusing. God has a plan and purpose for our life even if we do not understand God’s ways. This passage also reveals Moses’ leadership style to us. He was willing to distribute the responsibility of leadership to others but did so only with the support of the people. It was not a dictatorship; it was a democracy. Each tribe was given freedom to choose individuals who were wise, discerning, and reputable among them to be their leaders. In what ways have we entrusted the responsibility of leadership to others? How have we failed to identify small group leaders that can carry the load? It is also interesting to note that Moses remained available to the people (in case there were problems that their small group leaders could not handle), and Moses offered support for the small group leaders. Likewise, we must never view the appointment of small group leaders as a way to escape our own responsibility to lead. Instead, we must ensure that the leaders we install have their needs met and are cared for as they lead their small groups.
Are you going through a rough patch in your life? Do you feel like God has rejected you or turned His back on you? Such questions may have filled Paul’s mind in the midst of his great sorrow and the unceasing anguish in his heart. Paul points out that there have been difficult times in his life when he wondered if he was cursed and cut off from Christ. Have we ever felt this way? There are bound to be dark moments when we feel as though the word of God has failed us, and it may appear to us that God is not being just or merciful. However, we must keep in mind that God will have mercy on whom He chooses to have mercy, and God will have compassion on whom God chooses to have compassion.
Many of us look put together on the outside but inside we are a mess. What mental, emotional, physical or spiritual storms are in your life right now? Does anyone know that you are journeying through such storms? What difficult situation are you going through today that no one really knows about or could tell by just seeing you on the outside? In this passage, Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because they are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are a mess. Jesus even goes as far as calling them snakes - a brood of vipers. Jesus points out that because of their hypocritical approach to life, they have created and are living in their own hell. The only way to escape such hell is to trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and vulnerably share our life storms with those who can bring us peace. Who is there in our life that can instill hope in us and assure us that while there may be weeping in the night, joy is sure to come in the morning. Do we have friends and family that create a safe space for us to reveal who we truly are right now? God desires to guide us through the storms of life, and there are people out there who sincerely want to help us become the best version of ourselves. Please do not try to go at life alone. Trust God and trust those around you to get you through whatever hardship you are facing.
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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