By Naresh Namindla, CSC –
Readings: Josh 24:1-13; Mt 19: 3-12
We see in the first reading of today the recap of the journey of Israelites from the land of Egypt to the promised land. By using this recap, Prophet Joshua tried to communicate to the people of Israel that the God of Israel is a God of promise, the God of fulfillment, God the protector, and the God of love. For God promised Israelites that he would bring them to the promised land from the land of Egypt.
The God of Israel is the God of fulfillment and protector because he fulfilled all that he had promised Israelites amidst the crisis, grumblings and uncooperative nature of Israel. The God of Israel is the God of love, because he was provoked to be angry by the behavior of the Israelites but still he loved them and took all the challenges and risks to bring the victory to Israelites all through their journey.
I think Prophet Joshua used this recap to remind the people of Israel the wondrous deeds of God and put them on the track of loving and serving the God, Yahweh alone. Now it is time for us to look into the recap of our lives and see where we stand in our faith journey of loving and serving God and keep ourselves on the track of renewing our love and service to God and people.