Let us pray:
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Today we are given an insight to how easy it can be for us to blame others for our discomforts. In the first reading the Israelites complain to Moses and Aaron when their travel becomes challenging. After years of enslavement they have been freed and given a path to God but, when the travel is hard they choose to complain rather than trust in God’s promise. How many times has life thrown us a curve and caused us to question the presence of God in our trials? The pandemic, social injustice, fires, economic stress all are triggers that determine how we choose to handle those situations in concert with our faith. Hearing the words that promise us safety, comfort and resolution of our fears and concerns but leave no immediate evidence of that sometimes can leave us questioning the path we follow.
Imagine the position Jesus embraced with no hesitation. He could have elected to return to the Father and let us fend for ourselves in the quest for a relationship with our God, but instead He chose to remain in the thick of things, fully aware of the consequences, to provide us an example and assurance of His love. On top of that He chose to share this love and commitment to all who reached out to Him regardless of their station in life or origins. The story of the landowner who shared with his community in his abundance provides us with an example of this faith based act. The only stipulation asked was to agree to the conditions presented, to share equally regardless of the circumstances.
As he so artfully put it when questioned by those who he offered a reward, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
Here is the core of all we have heard in these readings. God provides as He chooses to all who come to Him. Regardless of our situations the one and only true and everlasting promise is that our Lord and Savior embraces us as we accept His love and supports us as we share that love with our neighbors.
My prayer for us today is that the spark that burns from His love in our hearts fuels us to acts far beyond our imaginations as we share in our responses towards all people. May the peace of God be with us and remain with us this day and forever.
Amen
Rev John