We Stubborn Humans

Reflection on Today’s Readings

Today’s readings deal with man’s stubbornness in turning away from sin and turning to God. In the first reading, from Exodus, we hear of the Israelites who fell into idolatry when Moses went to receive the 10 Commandments. In the gospel, Jesus speaks to some particularly stubborn people who do not believe in Him. He tells them that if they truly followed the words of Moses, they would know that He is God.

These readings give us some perspective when compared to the story of the centurion. While the centurion was open and objective about Jesus, the Israelites simply rejected God, even though He had recently saved them from the tyranny of the Egyptians. Then the Jews in the gospel are defiant and refuse to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, even though Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.

We can be a very selfish and stubborn people. Even with the full light of the Scriptures and Sacred Tradition, we still find difficulty in accepting God. Do we really understand what Jesus did for us? Do we understand our calling as Catholics? Do we understand what it means to sacrifice for others as Jesus did for us? Sometimes it seems we are just too concerned with our own problems to submit to the Will of God.

This is our opportunity for grace. We are being called. Who will answer the call?