Meribah and Massah

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." (Psalm 95: 8-9)

Meribah and Massah are type and shadow of the desert; the place for testing and refining our character. It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. I have often wondered why God allowed His people to almost die of thirst in the hot and inhospitable desert and got to the point of rebellion before providing them that basic and vital necessity of life.

This morning, the Gospel reading was the story of the Prodigal Son. At the end of the homily, the priest asked us a question: "Why did it take the Father of the Prodigal so long to communicate to his elder son that he appreciated him?" As I reflected on the question, I remembered the incident at Meribah and Massah. I saw a parallel in the two incidents. Scripture teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight. The disgruntled Israelites in Meribah and Massah were also required to walk by faith and not by sight. God saved them from slavery in Egypt. God provided and protected them every step of their journey till Meribah and Massah. Why did they think He would abandon them at this point?

Similarly, the elder son of the Father lived in the comfort of his Father's house where he enjoyed every prerogative and privilege. Why did he judge his Father's love and affection for him by the gift of a mere small lamb? To paraphrase his thought, "My Father did not give me a small lamb to feast with my friends. Therefore he does not love me."

It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. Do not complain; do not criticize; do not condemn.

Follow Christ

"My one command to them was this: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. In everything follow the way that I mark out for you, and you shall prosper." (Jeremiah 7: 23)

Father, I will obey. I will listen to your voice. In everything Daddy, I will follow the way you have marked out for me. Help me with your grace in my weakness dearest Father. Sustain me with your strength. Be always my God and my Father. Prosper the work of my hands. Grant me your prosperity and blessing in everything. Make me a blessing to others.

"Follow the way that I mark out for you."

Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

The 7-Way Plan

 

 

Great Paschal Mystery

"Father, help us to be ready to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery. Make our love grow each day as we approach the feast of our salvation …. " (Mass Prayer in Lent)

We ask God to help us to be ready for Easter. How does God prepare us to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery? He encourages us to pray more, to fast more and give more alms to the needy. When we respond to His word, He blesses us with greater Easter joy and peace.

He answered me

"I am the Savior of all people says the Lord. Whatever their troubles, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord." (Mass Prayer)

Whatever their troubles:

• Family
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Money
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  

God answered me when I cried to him to save me from the above troubles one time or the other in my life. He was indeed my Savior. He is always my Lord. Today, I am crying to Him to let me experience His perfect love that drives out fear. I promise Him that when He answers my prayer, I will ask for a powerful ministry to help my neighbors to experience this powerful and perfect love too. I know whom I trust. I know that at the right time He will answer this prayer as He had done in the past.

Praise, honor and glory to You, eternal Father.

Your All-Powerful Word

"In truth, I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved." (Matthew 5: 18)

All God's purposes are to be accomplished through the law.

The law is sacrosanct.

The law is alive and active.

The law tends towards its fulfillment. (Habakkuk 2: 2-4)

The law, the word of God cannot be returned to God without accomplishing its purpose.

Our Roadmap

"And now, Israel, listen to the laws and customs which I am teaching you today, so that, by observing them, you may survive to enter and take possession of the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors is giving you." (Deuteronomy 4:1)

We are pilgrims on earth. We journey towards our permanent homeland. God's laws and customs are the road map and the signs on this great journey.

The Word of God as Nourishment

"Lord, during this Lenten season nourish us with your word of life and make us one in love and prayer ….." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

God nourishes us with His word especially in Lent. The selection of readings is excellent, designed to excite faith and conversion. Note how the Holy Spirit guides the Church in the planning of the Liturgy. The Church urges the faithful to attend daily Mass during Lent so that they could be nourished with the rich scriptures of this joyful season.