August 5, 2011
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
By Melanie Rigney
“Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” (Deuteronomy 4:33-34)
You are the God who works wonders; among the peoples you have made know your power. (Psalm 77:15)
“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26)
Piety
Lord, help me to be present to the wonders, large and small, you place in this world.
Study
Sometimes, we sell God short.
The Israelites had a tendency to do that too, as we see in today’s first reading. Moses is reminding them of all the “signs and wonders” that God provided to get them out of Israel. But memories fade. Perhaps some had forgotten the ten plagues, or the parting of the Red Sea. They were more concerned about why they hadn’t yet crossed the Jordan. What about all that good land they’d been promised? When were they going to get to the place of milk and honey?
God blesses each and every one of us, every single day of our lives. Do you remember your First Communion or Confirmation? Or how about your wedding day or the birth of your children? Or the date of your conversion? Or a good medical report after a health crisis? Or the perfect vacation? How about your Cursillo Weekend? But like the Israelites, our memories can fade. After the initial euphoria and praise and wonder, we can take for granted what He’s done for us in the past and instead ask, “So what have you done for me lately?”
The thing is, God’s in the not-so-good things too, the situations where we become impatient with ourselves and the places we find ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. He gives us what we need to move closer to Him in resolving those crises. Sometimes, what we need is a miracle; sometimes, that miracle is the stamina and faith to bear the unbearable. We don’t get to pick the “signs and wonders” we receive. But we do have the choice of recognizing them and being grateful… or casting them aside and whining. The choice is ours.
Action
Check out www.arlingtoncursillo.org and sign up for the upcoming Weekends’ palanca clock… pray for the teams currently in formation… and think about the people you know who are ready for the signs and wonders that come on a Weekend. Talk with them about Cursillo. Perhaps this is their time.
