WORD 2day: Thursday, 18th week in Ordinary time
August 8, 2019: Numbers 20: 1-13; Matthew 16: 13-23
Moses and Peter – their impatience and impudence come under scrutiny! Moses, whom God spoke to as a friend, and Peter, whom Jesus called the Rock on which he would build his Church – even they, as leaders give themselves off in a moment of fatigue and overconfidence! Discipleship is not a victory gained once for all! It is a daily commitment and a perpetual challenge. Anything can bring down to the ground whatever we have built with days and days of hard work and persistence. We cannot afford to grow careless. That is why Jesus teaches us to watch and pray and be vigilant always, that the moment of the enemy may not overtake us (Lk 21:34-36).
The murmurings and the hardheadedness of the people catches on to Moses and in a moment of impatience and restlessness, Moses instead of waiting on the Lord, decides to act on his own account. While the Lord asked him to speak to the rock( 20:8) in order that the water may flow, he strikes the rock with his baton (20:11). The commendation from Jesus gets to the head of Peter and he turns presumptuous to question the will of God! Both of them are promptly indicated their mistake.
The lesson is clear for us today – to remain vigilant in our discipleship that we may always remain calm but cautious, confident but humble, persistent but patient, passionate but attentive to the Will of the Master! May these great apostles, Moses and Peter, teach us by example.