In the book of Exodus we read of the great works that God accomplished to free the Jews from slavery in Egypt and deliver them to the promised land, the land “flowing with milk and honey”
The trek from Egypt to Israel, which should have lasted maybe several months, took the Jews 40 years of desert wandering. Why were the Jews condemned to the desert? The desert was to be a place of purification. It was quickly evident that the Jews were not quite ready for paradise: disobedience and unbelief filled their hearts. And in order to be the people God had chosen them to be, purification was in order.
We heard today the complaint of the Israelites. They claimed they had it better in Egypt. They preferred well-fed slavery to the struggle of freedom.
This is the story of every baptized Christian who falls back into sin. In baptism, we are freed from the slavery to the devil, the flesh, and the world. But sometimes we hear and feel those old temptations calling—temptations to fall back to the comfortable, to just give in to the urgings of the flesh, the easy road, to forsake struggle for slavery.
St. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery...You were called for freedom…Do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love."
A lesson we can learn from the Jews’ desert wanderings, is that perhaps complaining is a quick road to disobedience. We start to the focus on the negative, the pleasures of the old sinful ways, and soon we are living back under slavery.
To combat that incessant urge to complain when things aren’t going our way, or to forsake the way of Christ in the midst of trial: we should certainly think before we speak, think before we act; we should seek to see our trial from God’s point of view, perhaps contemplate the lessons God wishes to teach us by allowing us to undergo our trials, and to remember that there is no spiritual growth without suffering; no pain, no spiritual gain.
The martyrs, like Pope St. Sixtus and his companions, whom we honor today, remind us that the way of Christ, making our way on this earthly pilgrimage to the heavenly promised land, requires perseverance, fortitude in resisting temptation, and surrender to the providence of God.
May we live in the freedom of Christ, the freedom of the saints and martyrs, that we may safely reach our heavenly homeland and become the chosen people God made us to be, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That all Christians experiencing trials of any kind, may
know the grace of perseverance and faithfulness.
For Bishop Nelson Perez, the next shepherd of our diocese; that the
Holy Spirit will empower his diocesan leadership with grace, wisdom, and faith.
That our young people on summer vacation may remain close to
Jesus through prayer, attendance at Holy Mass with their families, repentance
through Sacramental Confession, and faithfulness to all the teachings of
Christ. We pray to the Lord.
For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing
homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster, war, violence, and
terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for
the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families. We pray to the
Lord.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and
parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious,
and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord,
and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through
Christ our Lord.
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