THIRD SUNDAY
Emily Rogers C ‘13

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener?

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.” Psalm 95: 8-9

I don’t think that the Israelites of today’s 1st reading would agree with the popular phrase “The grass is always greener on the other side.” They have just escaped the shackles of slavery in Egypt, followed Moses through the Red Sea, saw the destruction of Egyptian soldiers, and praised God for all of these things. Then, they all begin to complain! “We’re sick of manna, Moses.” “We’re thirsty, Moses.” “God isn’t with us, Moses.” The Israelites are testing the Lord, who has already brought them this far along in their journey to the Promised Land. The people are losing hope and growing impatient. They refuse to remember all the Lord has already done for them and cannot see that God is still working in their midst. They want to see the “green grass” now, rather than allow God’s graces to come in God’s time.

Do we ever grow impatient with God’s plans for us? Do we refuse to remember all that God has already done and what He is doing in our present situation? Lent is a time of waiting, a time of anticipation and remembrance. It is a time to practice patience, to be thankful for God’s sacrifices for us, and to recognize Him more in our daily lives.

Lord, help us to be patient, to trust in Your plan, and to not harden our hearts when we hear Your voice! Amen.

Ex: 3: 1-8a, 13-15 or Ex 17: 3-7, Ps 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11 or
Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9, Ps 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11 or Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9,
1Cor 10: 1-6, 10-12 or Rom 5: 1 -2, 5-8