Weeks 12 and 13 Summaries

O.T. There’s an old joke about a guy who’s running late for an important meeting. When he pulls into the busy parking lot, there are no spots available.  “Lord,” the man prays, “if you can find me a place to park, I’ll do anything you ask!”  Miraculously, a car pulls out of a spot just ahead.  “Never mind, Lord,” the man exclaims, “I found one myself!”

Weeks 12 and 13 complete Deuteronomy. Moses is 120 years old and about to die without entering the “promised land”. It is said that Leviticus is the book of law and Deuteronomy is the book of sermons. In this book Moses gives the message that there are only two ways open for us in this life: the way of obedience to God and the way of disobedience. The way of obedience is divinely guaranteed to lead to inheriting all God’s promises. The way of disobedience is equally guaranteed to result in result in tragedy and failure. The Old Testament will be full of stories of exactly this. People will be obedient for a while and then fall back into disobedience. It’s only God’s mercy that has saved us….. I picture God looking down and saying “Again?, Really?” ….

There are a couple of verses that I found memorable:

1. 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be front-lets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
2. 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse ; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice; for that means life to you and length of days…..

Moses was not able to go into the promised land because of his disobedience, and died being able to see where he was not allowed to go. If the promised land is heaven, then Moses had to finally enter it, for he appears with Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration.

Moses repeats the 10 commandments for a second time and the tablets will be placed in the Ark of the Covenant and brought into the Promised Land.

So, why the parking lot joke? 8:17-18 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall remember the Lord you God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers this day.

And really, there were a lot of things that we are told not to do that I didn’t even know that people thought about doing. Yikes!!

On with Joshua next….

N.T. It’s interesting that we finish Mark, with the Crucifixion and Resurrection, and immediately Luke with the Christmas story. Luke is the Gospel that i am most familiar with for the birth and Mark for the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

And I also find it interesting that John the baptist preceded Jesus and from the Old Testament Moses preceded Joshua. Both Moses and John were telling of someone else that is coming to lead us into the promised land…….

Luke 1, we read the words of the Rosary and the words of the Magnificat:

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name; And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel, His servant, mindful of His mercy – Even as He spoke to our father – to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Psalms :

70: May all who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and deliverer; O Lord , do not delay.

75: We give thanks to you , O God; we give thanks…. we call on your name and recount your wondrous deeds.

77: Your way O God is Holy. What God is great like our God…….

And…. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron

Please feel free to add anything or to just comment.