16th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 26th July 2023 – Exodus 16,1-5.9-15; Mt 13,1-9
Being deaf to Complaints
The first reading takes place just one month after the Exodus from Egypt. By now the food that the Israelites had taken from Egypt is exhausted. They begin to complain to Moses that they had abundance of food to eat in Egypt, but now not sure of their next meal. They seem to have forgotten how God worked mighty signs and wonders. Even in the midst of their complaints, God has compassion on them and shows divine providence by providing “manna” and quail to eat. Their God is a caring God, one who is largely deaf to his people’s constant complaints, their short memories of former help and protection and their weak faith. A patient and responding God who heard their complaint and told Moses of his plan to rain down ‘bread’ from heaven every day. What is miraculous is not that manna and quail appear, but that the quantities of both which are present throughout the seasons of the year and for many years of the Israelites’ journey through the desert.
