The first reading informs us that there are those who had been responding to God’s call long before Moses came. It says, “in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.” This passage reminds us that, like the Israelites in Egypt, we can respond to God regardless of the circumstances in our lives. How are we responding to God’s call in our lives? Do we reject God’s call because we are not “permitted” because of political circumstances?
The Responsorial Psalm reminds us that we have been chosen to be God’s own, and he has blessed us. How do we respond to the blessings God has given? Are we grateful or do we just want more?
Paul reminds us that faith is not in something we can see or grab or something we can prove to people. It is “the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.” We don’t have faith because we have seen, we have faith because we have not seen. This provides us with the hope of things yet to come, things not yet here. Just because God has not yet fulfilled our faith does not mean God is unfaithful. Even Abraham., Sarah, Isaac and others did not Live to see God’s promise completed, yet they had faith and believed he would accomplish what he had promised he would do. Do we get upset when God’s promises ro us remain unfilled? Are we patient to realize things unfold in God’s time?
Jesus himself recognizes that not everything will happen in the manner we think it will. He tells us to “Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach, nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Where is our treasure? Our family? Our finances? Our possessions? Our job? Our hobbies? Are we like the good servants who await their master’s return from a wedding? Do we have patience and perseverance?
Countenance of God 