Week Four Summary

Dear Jesus, help me to reflect and write what You want me to. “Humility, Humility, Humility.” St. John Marie Vianney’s response to the question, “What are the three greatest virtues?” Always struggling with my pride, and trying to be clever, get a laugh, and pretty much get people’s attention, I humbly submit to You, obedient and resigned to Your Divine Will,with JOY and gratefulness, O Lord. You are God, I’m not. Thank You, God.

Old Testament

Genesis 46:3 “Then He said, “I am God, the God of your father, do not be afraid…” Yes, I’m taking some liberty here, but I’m finding this statement is a strong theme and challenge to trust God, throughout this week’s readings.

We begin with Jacob, now called Israel, traveling with all of his family, and herds and possessions to meet his son Joseph, whom he had thought had died many years before. The story of their reuniting always brings me to tears. The whole story of Joseph’s being sold by his brothers, his unfair prison sentence, and then rising to second in power of Egypt, in order to save his family, as well as a nation, and yes, even continue the lineage of God’s people, is…amazing. What faithfulness and trust Joseph had!

Then we are told of of Jacob’s death and burial, and that Joseph and all of his brothers and families live in a choice part of Egypt. Which then brings us to the persecution of the growing numbers of the sons of Israel, by the king of Egypt. Underlining the midwives part of the story, where they did not obey the king and kill the baby boys at birth, “and God dealt well with the midwives.” Yeah, for midwives!

Next we read the familiar story of “The Adventure in the Bulrushes”. Yeah Tommy! Baby Moses, who grows up into a man, who was chosen by God to lead His people to the Promised Land. Moses hears God’s Voice from the burning bush, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. When a short time later, Moses asks God, “What is Your Name? God replies,”I AM WHO I AM.” and again, repeats His statement of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After which, God then reveals to Moses his plan of the deliverance of His people from Egypt.

Fast forward to the many plagues sent by God to the Egyptian nation, because of Pharaoh’s hardness of heart. It was surprising and yet again, taught me to be assured that God is in complete control; when God revealed to Moses that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, and that Pharaoh would rescind on each of his initial offers to let the sons of Israel depart. At the last of the plagues, the Pharaoh finally insists that they take everything, their families, flocks and herds, and even the jewelry of silver and gold and clothing of the Egyptians, as God would have the Egyptians despoiled.

Psalms 20-25

I thought of Joseph, when I read Psalm 20:6. How he must have clung to these promises while he was in the hole his brothers put him in, or when they sold Joseph as a slave, or being cast into prison for many years, unjustly. I can almost picture him humbly nodding as the Pharaoh gave him the position of second in command, and then, also, seeing his brothers coming to him frightened and uncertain, asking Joseph for food for them and their father. Humility, Obedience, and Resignation, as he hopes in God’s Divine Will. Psalm 22, begins with the exact words Jesus cries out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” Our Lord knew the Psalms well! The other Psalms of the week tell of how God will bless those who trust Him, and fear the Lord. They tell of how God delivers us, all His people, from evil. Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd…”, comforts me. Psalm 24 gives us hope and lifts our heads to be recognizing the King of Glory! Recently reading the suggestion of the posture of prayer, of lifting my head, looking to Him, in hope, love and trust, I begin to change my “humble looking down”, which is really just looking at myself. God teaches me, I AM GOD.

Matthew 15-19

The New Testament now seems more of a love story to me, as Jesus would be reading it to me. With all of its lessons and challenges, and deep devotion and sacrifices, and Him repeating, multiple times, gently, lovingly, patiently, those instructions that test my passions and weaknesses.

Matthew 15:4 Honor your father and your mother. As is written in the reflection, “Jesus calls us to a life of self-giving, of looking to the needs of those around us, starting with those he has placed closest to us in our own families.” I would like to take this opportunity to tell all of our children THANK YOU, for helping us, and encouraging us to Live for Him, with Him, and in Him.

The faith and courage of the Canaanite woman who protested to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Our Lord responding, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” How do I ask Him for things? With hesitancy? With trust? His Divine Will be done, not mine?

Matthew 16:2,3. “Red sky in morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors delight.” It makes me think of the days on Lake Ontario. More demanding, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24.

Matthew 17 tells the story of the Transfiguration, and Jesus tells Peter, James and John not to tell anyone of what they saw. I’ve read in different places, that He didn’t want the people to just want to see or experience miracles, but to have true faith in God. Other authors suggest it was because Jesus was using, what’s that called, where you want the opposite to happen; reverse psychology? Still not certain about it, if anyone has other thoughts? Jesus heals an epileptic and then remonstrates his apostles for their little faith, “…if you have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move and nothing will be impossible to you.” He also told his apostles of his forthcoming passion and death.

Matthew 18

Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” St Thomas Aquinas teaches, ” It would behoove everyone to consider himself a greater sinner or a greater fool than his neighbor.” Humility. Always striving for Humility.

Matthew 19

We read Our Lord’s response to the Pharisees question about divorce. Jesus answers firmly, and points out because of their hardness of hearts, Moses allowed the people to divorce. He says, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman, commits adultery.” Jesus continues to explain about the eunuchs, which I’m not sure I understand, but finishes with the blessing of the children. “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.” This reminds me to love all babies, and children, yes, and adults, too.

Thank you, all of you who have shared, trustingly and openly. I’m eager to continue reading and learning from God, and all of you!