14th JULY. TUESDAY IN WEEK 15

1.Exodus 2:1-15

2.Matthew 11:20-24

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

Faith and Miracles

As we celebrate this mass today we can put this question before us for meditation, that what is the purpose of miracles in our faith? The gospel today raises the question about the place and purpose of miracles. The people in those twin lakeside towns ( Chorazin and Capernaum) in northwest Galilee witnessed many miracles but were unmoved by the message of Jesus. Jesus with prophetic anger he reproaches them with their failure to repent. The miracles performed by Jesus meant to bring a transformation in lifestyle, turning aside from selfishness and showing new concern for the poor and the sick. His healings of many people in need was a sign and invitation that he was seriously concerned with humanity. His miracles were not intended for popularity or for personal honor, rather the miracles performed by Jesus meant to show love and mercy of God to humanity.

Many centuries before, after a period in exile Moses reappears before Pharaoh as a miracle worker who invokes the ten plagues ( Exod Chaps 7-12), a section that is passed over in the liturgy. Given this tradition about Moses’ miraculous power, it is clear that he does not use this miracle for his own self- promotion, but he uses miracles for people’s well being.

In his youth, Moses was prepared for his later vocation of bringing  the slave people Israel out of their slavery. Already sensitive to any oppression or mistreatment of others, he could not stand by, uninvolved, on seeing an Egyptian striking a Hebrew. Nor could he tolerate the sight of a Hebrew man being beaten by another, but asked the culprit, ‘ why are you striking your brother?’ A passion for Justice burned already in the young Moses, preparing him for his role as liberator in later years.