Dt 4:32-40 / Mt 16:24-28
The Israelites, whom Moses was called to lead, were notorious complainers. Nothing was ever right; nothing was ever enough. So in today’s reading from Deuteronomy, we find Moses trying yet again to help his people see and acknowledge exactly how privileged they were and how cherished by God. Given their history, one can only wonder how many of them really got the message and took it to heart.
But before we settle into feelings of condescending self-satisfaction, we may want to remember that this reading is assigned to be read today because we need to hear it too. Our lives are nothing less than a succession of real miracles, but the miracles happen so regularly and usually come in such tiny pieces and, in many cases, were in place before we got here, that we hardly notice. Whether we look at the complexity of our own bodies and the intricacies of our minds or cast our gaze outward at distant planets, we should, if we’re paying attention, be stunned into silent thankfulness and awe of the One who made it all.
That wouldn’t be a bad way to spend today: silent thankfulness and awe!
