Guest Scripture Reflection

When God led Israelite slaves out of Egypt, some 3,000 years ago, they had very little idea what he was about. He guided them in the wilderness of Sinai, provided for their needs in remarkable ways, then told them that he wanted to establish a permanent relationship with them as a group. “Listen to my voice,” he said, “I will be your God, and you shall be my people.” Who could have known?

In the first reading, a wise teacher encourages us to be merciful. When we forgive, we reflect the gracious love and merciful character of God. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we belong to Christ.

“We do not know how to pray as we ought,” St. Paul tells us today. But where’s the problem? There are so many prayers – the Hail Mary, the Book of Psalms, novenas, countless prayer books and, most basic of all, the Lord’s Prayer. When we don’t know how to pray, we can use those.

We live in a crazy mixed-up-world, yet it is still God’s world. He is still in control. Confident of this, we can face life as it is, knowing that someday life will become what it ought to be. Until that day comes, may we establish our hearts in the unshakeable faith of Christ.   

A friend of mine liked to quote a saint – I don’t remember which one – who said that food is God’s love made edible. In our first reading, the biblical authors indicate that water is God’s love made drinkable. When the Israelites become dehydrated during their journey through a broiling desert, God pulls them back from the brink of death with a miraculous supply of water.