Num. 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35
Matthew 15:21-28
Along the path of hopes and joys that the children of Israel would soon know in ‘the land flowing with milk and honey’. They were obstacles that they themselves created as a result of their lack of faith in the One who had delivered them from the land of slavery in Egypt. First of all it was hunger, then thirst, then fear of giants. At a point, they doubted that God would really take care of them. Moses told the people God had said in the burning bush, ‘I will take you to a land flowing with milk and honey’.All of that generation did walk back toward Egypt, it would seem several times over the course of many years! They died in that desert. It was hard for them to trust in God even though, they see his presence daily in their midst as a pillar of fire at night and a cloud during the day and the end those who proved their trust in the Lord were not deserted.
Our faith in God will have to pass through the test of time. From persistency to reverence in faith the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel received favor from the Lord Jesus. Her daughter was delivered from the hands of the death. Christ tested her and she value the test and came through successfully. Her daughter was well again. This is what faith can do for us, when we feel all hope is gone, faith comes through. When we are in doubt, faith gives us courage to face any test that comes our way. What we believe truly matters. Faith in God makes us write out the success story of our lives and how God carried us through.
Unlike the other spies who went to the land of Canaan, that brought in evil reports to discourage and disparage the people, Caleb instead stood against such a discouraging report and He said to the people, ‘WE MUST MARCH ON! ‘This is what I urge us to do in our faith and our belief in God today and always. Believe! Have Faith in God and you will achieve it! There is a proverb that says that, “ the many legs of the centipede does not stop it from falling but helps it to carry on”. We too must never be discouraged but take it to the Lord in prayer.
Fr Joseph Osho
