After Miriam was punished with leprosy for “conspiring against Moses” in Numbers 12:1-15, she pleaded for God’s forgiveness, was cured in “seven days”, and was allowed to return to “the camp” where God’s Chosen People were on the way to God’s Promised Land.
God’s “community” had another problem when they “settled at Kadesh” in Today’s Reading from Numbers 20:1-13. “As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron, contending with Moses because we and our livestock are dying where there is not even water to drink!”
“Then the glory of The LORD appeared to them, and The LORD said to Moses, ‘Take your staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters. From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation and their livestock to drink.”
Catholics see why every Bishop carries a “staff”: Every Catholic Bishop is our “Moses” bringing water to “The Catholic Camp” that is our Diocese.
Then, Moses made a mistake. Rather than “ordering” the “water” to appear, “Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed in abundance for the people and their livestock to drink.”
God was not pleased that Moses “struck the rock” rather than obediently “ordering the rock to yield its waters.” God told Moses and Aaron of their mistake: “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you were not faithful to Me in showing forth My Sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”
Today’s Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 tells us the mistake every Catholic asks God to keep us from making! “If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.”
Our Catholic “Alleluia” from Mt. 16:18 reflects The Church-Creating Word from God! “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Catholics choose to gain the reward for being obedient! “I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
How and why did Jesus choose Peter to be His First Catholic Pope? Those who most meaningfully believe in His Word read all of Mt 16:13-23:
“Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’
They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
Then, Jesus asked the question every believer must answer! ‘But who do you say that I am?’”
Only one of His Disciples had The Answer! ‘Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’
Every Catholic shares The Blessing that follows! “Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’
What did Jesus do after that? “Then He strictly ordered His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.”
“From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes (some things never change), and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Peter was given the test that Moses failed at Meribah! “Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying
‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to You.’ Jesus turned (it was not a face-to-face comment) and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an obstacle to Me.”
Then, Jesus told Peter what Miriam and Moses learned in the desert: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
To see more about how Peter fully absolved Himself, you must at least see the cover and read the Forward in this free, anonymous book and see how Peter fulfilled one of The Last Prophecies of Jesus Christ, Himself!
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “May we all / heed God’s call.”
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