Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday of 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 21st, 2021
Texts: Ex. 16:1-5. 9-15; Ps. 78:18-19.23-28; Mtt. 13:1-9
Today the people of God murmured again. They complained because they were tied to their past. They said, " _would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”_ We are not to be tied to the past, for it has run its full course and come to an end. The most surprising thing is that the people of God were tied down to their past life, not their past experiences of God's wonder. We could see in this self-centeredness and how quickly they could forget God. When we focus on ourselves without considering the deeds of God, we will continue to complain, lament and make no headway. If they had considered the wonders of God to them in the past, they would have not murmured. We also focus on ourselves, sometimes, like them. Today we are reminded to always consider the wonders of God; what He can do for us, for it is then that we can make headway.
The past of our life serve no purpose again except as a lesson for the present and future. That means the past has no meaning without the present and the future. Longing for the past is like swimming against the current; nature does not look backward but forward. It is against the law of nature to look backward. We are to always look forward. Looking forward is a solution to complaint.
They refused to be forward looking and so made the present a burden, something not worth living. What gives the present meaning is the future to which we look. This is clear in the life of Jesus; for the Scripture says, _"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God's throne"_ (Heb. 12:2). Unless we look forward, the present will weigh us down, we will not enjoy the moment. Looking forward gives us energy to over the challenges of the present; it makes the present bearable and livable.
The first reading also reminds us that nothing can prevent God from accomplishing His work in our lives. Inspite of the complaints against Him and His servant, He fed them and showed them his love and care.
If we are still tied down to our past, the word of God will not make meaning to us. Among those who are tied down to the past, we can see the three kind of people who represent unfertile soil. We cannot hear and assimilate the word of God when we are tied down to the past of our life. Let us free ourselves from the past and be forward looking with eyes on God, whom nothing is impossible.
Lord our God, help us to always meditate on Your wonders; free us from our past and draw our attention to the future with our eyes on You always. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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