Scripture:
Exodus 14:5-18
Matthew 12:38-42
Reflection:
Life’s journey can be confusing. In our first reading, the Israelites are free from the enslavement of the Egyptians. The Egyptians paid the Israelites reparation for the years of forced labor. The Israelites had both freedom and wealth. The king of Egypt reversed his decision to let the Israelites go. When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army coming after them, they panicked. Moses told them to fear not and stand still and God told Moses to move forward. Imagine how confusing!
The journey of life is arduous, challenging and most confusing. Like the Israelites, when that journey becomes challenging, do we panic and want to return to our old ways? God’s message was “Don’t fear, move ahead.” Our future is somewhat uncertain, but do we trust and have faith in God?
The first step to freedom is to realize that we are enslaved. What does this mean for us? This means that we need to be aware of and acknowledge those areas in our life where we aren’t free but enslaved to wealth, work, prejudice, fear, and other addictions. As we walk along the uncertain winding road of life it can be confusing. God calls us to freedom and to be free from sin and various forms of slavery.
We can’t stand still, but with faith and courage we move forward. O God of the journey, You rescued the Israelites, please rescue us from things of this world that might enslave us so that we journey in freedom with our faith and trust in you. (Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D., Today’s Good News, Living With Christ, published by Bayard, Inc. p. 154)
Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.