This is how the Lord sees the people of Ancient Israel: stiff of neck, depraved, and idol-worshippers. But after Moses pleads with God, he relents and does not send down his wrath upon them. Moses asks God: How would it look to the Egyptians if you destroy them, those who you had chosen as your special people? What message would that convey to the world?
We may not rebel in the same way that the Israelites did when they turned their backs on God. As we are past the middle of our Lenten journey, we think about the ways we are trying to turn back to God with our Lenten devotions, with abstaining from meat on Fridays as we remember the day that Jesus died, as we pray the stations of the cross, as we go to the sacrament of reconciliation, as we practice the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
I think what a lot of people like about Pope Francis is the common sense advice he gives. His advice is practical and direct. His advice makes us think about our lives and the way we live out our faith. I recently saw this quote from him: “What do I do with my life? Do I create unity around me? Or do I cause division by gossip, criticism, or envy?” Do we unite with our words and our actions? Do we sow seeds of peace? Or do we sow hatred and jealousy and discord?
May the Lord not look at us and wonder about us, like he did did with the people of Israel as they rebelled against him on their journey. Let him see us as faithful servants who are trying to travel down the road of faith, imperfect though we may be.
No comments:
Post a Comment