Desert Reflections: Grumbling

The Gathering of the Manna, c 1465

The Israelites grumble against Moses and Aaron – and God – in today’s first reading fearing that they were going to die of famine in the desert. Instead of grumbling like the Israelites about what we don’t have and can’t control, Fr Charlie suggests we try being grateful for what do have and can control and do what we can, with God’s help, to change the situation.

Today’s Readings

Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron…. “Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!”
EX 16:1-5, 9-15

Such large crowds gathered around [Jesus] that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables. 
MT 13:1-9