Friday, August 8, 2025
Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Moses speaks to those he loves
There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
But Moses, 120 years old, will taste death. The book of Deuteronomy consists of Moses’ instructions to the Israelites before they enter the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. As Moses knows, he himself will not cross that river. This is his final speech, reinforcing for his people the words of God he heard and followed, the words he hopes his people will follow too, in the coming years and centuries.
Yahweh did not forget what happened at the Rock. Moses was told to speak to the rock, and waters would gush forth. But he struck the rock twice with the staff of God instead. Therefore, the Lord told him he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses pleaded with him to change his mind, but he did not.
You must now know and fix in your heart that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and there is no other. You must keep the commandments which I speak to you today, that you are your children may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you forever.
Jesus spoke with strength to all of us, even Moses. Do not follow your own way.
Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
We do not speak with God as Moses did, nor do we see God as Moses did. Occasionally, some of us have a glimpse, but not like Moses. And Jesus is speaking even of Moses:
Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
If I think of Moses, then I see that Jesus is setting the bar very high for our offerings, the “losing” of our lives. Impossibly high, I think? Probably not. In Moses’ life the more he was obedient, the easier it became for him. Moses learned to listen to God’s words about his own opinions, point of view, desires. That must be true for us as well. Two steps forward, one step back.
When we arrived back in Austin on Tuesday, our apartment thermostat read 85 degrees, where we set it in May when we left for Illinois. I was grateful when the fan kicked in as I reset the temperature to 76. However, our internet modem was fried, according to Ty in North Carolina. It would take a couple of days to get a technician out here. And then we began finding bugs living in the freezer, in the electrical outlets, and anywhere we cared to step. Perhaps they were all migrating from other apartments to ours, an oasis when other folks turned the pest control people on them and we were blissfully absent.
Since we returned the temperature outside has been over 95 every day. The sun beats down.  The bugs scamper, scatter and retreat. But the modem was replaced this morning, and we are up and running again. We’ll ask the pest control folks to help next week with the bugs. Can I find my way toward gratitude rather than resentment?
I think so. Moses leads the way.
I remember the deeds of the Lord. I remember your works of old. I mediate on your works. You are the God who works wonders.
(Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 77, Matthew 5, Matthew 16)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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