Word to the Wise
Monday, July 21, 2025 - Monday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Exod 14:5-18 and Matt 12:38-42]Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the Lord. And they complained to Moses, "Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, 'Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians'? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in this desert." But Moses answered the people, "Fe ar not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you only have to keep still." [Exodus] "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." [Matthew]
Well....not exactly! Moses still has to act when God says so and the Children of Israel have to get up and cross on dry land. The story of the crossing of the Red (or "reed?") Sea, is a big one and the lectionary only takes us as far as near banks with the Egyptians in hot pursuit. The next thrilling episode will show up in tomorrow's scriptures. Today's episode does offer us a preview of what Moses will have to expect for a long time to come. The Children of Israel will continually be saying, "What have you done for us lately?"
The incidents of the Golden Calf, the Manna, and the water from the rock, let alone the Ten Commandments, are still ahead. The sheer scope of the saga of liberation can overshadow the hard lessons of leadership. Moses will continually find himself between God and the Israelites. At one point he yells at God: "If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress!" [Numbers 11:15] From my own experience, I can only sympathize! Pastors and public servants can relate to it as well!
Jesus and St. Paul had to deal with it as well. The gospel for today, with the demands from the scribes and Pharisees for a "sign" shows an example! St. Paul had to write letters to keep the Corinthians and Galatians from destroying themselves! Perhaps in the light of all of this, we can each ask what we do expect from our leaders, whether civil or ecclesiastical? AMEN