God's Work Cannot Be Destroyed

In today's first reading, Exodus 1: 8-14, 22, the Egyptian authorities execute a decree to oppress the Israelites, their slaves,as their population is increasing, afraid that,in times of war with other nations, the Israelites will join Egypt's enemies and turn against them and  also leave the country.  "Let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase....Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied."

So, too, with Christianity!  God's work cannot be destroyed. The work of the Holy Spirit is unstoppable, then and now!

No matter how the cross appears--outside oppression, internal turmoil, ill health, failure of some sort or whatever-- whatever suffering you and I endure in faith and in trusting the Lord, our faith will deepen and our love grow stronger and more extensive. Suffering endured in faith will yield fruit that will last into eternity!

In Jesus' suffering, Jesus never lost sight of His Father's delight and love of Him and of us.  May you and I, likewise in our sufferings, not lose sight of God's delight in us,  His love for us, and His nearness, giving us the strength we need to grow in faith and trust of the Lord!  May we look to God for help to realize how much we depend upon God to grow in faith and love especially during times of trial, turbulence, and pain!





 

Discerning God at Work within our Lives

Today’s discernment is based on Hosea: 2: 21-22, where Yahweh says to us through the prophet Hosea:  “ I shall betroth you to myself for ever, I shall betroth you in uprightness and justice, and faithful love and tenderness.  Yes, I shall betroth you to myself in loyalty and in the knowledge of Yahweh.”

In a commentary on this verse, the author tells us that the word “betroth” is used in the Bible “only in reference to ‘a young  virgin.’  Thus God abolishes Israel’s adulterous past. His new marriage is, as it were, with a new creature whose dispositions are as constant as his own…” (Footnote “t” of Hosea 2: 21) in the Jerusalem Bible).

God is at work in us and will continue that work until our “dispositions are as constant as his own.” And he accomplishes this work “in uprightness and justice, and faithful love and tenderness.” Yes, Yahweh betroths us to Himself “in loyalty and in knowledge” of Himself.”

Part of discernment is to recognize God at work within us, moving us toward the constancy that God models for us.  Discern the tenderness of God, God’s justice and uprightness at work in us each day.  Note that God is loyal. God will never abandon us.  Our past is no more, in God’s eyes. He says to us,  in Isaiah 43: 19, “See I am making something new.”