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Reflection for August 2, 2015

7/30/2015

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We have been reading and meditating about the Book of Exodus from the Old Testament. This book tells us about God’s plan to save his people. This divine plan includes the liberation of his people from the slavery they were subjected to while in Egypt and their journey through the desert until their arrival at the promised land. In response to this, God expected his people to be loyal to him and to show obedience towards his laws. 

The human aspect of God’s people can be seen every time they face a test. The hunger, thirst, and dangers of the desert made them quickly forget God’s great deeds to protect them. Once again, the entire assembly complained to Moses by saying, “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!” (Exodus 16:3).

As always, God shows the infinite patience He has with his people. “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.” (Exodus 16:4). “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have your fill of bread, and then you will know that I, the Lord, am your God” (Exodus 16:12). 

Yet the people have little faith in God. Despite everything God has done to save them, they grumble against God at the first sign of trouble, and they even make a golden calf to worship. God sees this as a grave sin and gives them the commandments, so that by observing them, they could preserve their loyalty to Him. The tent of meeting, the holy place where God revealed himself to Moses, becomes a symbol of hope, and the people go back to God in order to worship Him.

As a matter of fact, the main reason why God freed his people from the Egyptians is so that they would have the freedom to worship Him exclusively because in Egypt, the Israelites didn’t have an opportunity to build a tent or church to worship God. The promised land was given with the purpose of building a temple in honor of God. Unfortunately, today, there are people who don’t worship God. Suddenly, worshiping Satan is growing. Brothers and sisters, God expects us to be faithful to him, to obey his divine law and, above all, to adore Him only.

God bless you.   

Domingo XVII Tiempo Ordinario 2015     

Queridos hermanos y hermanas,             

Hemos venido leyendo y meditando con el libro del Éxodo del Antiguo Testamento. Este libro nos narra el plan de salvación que tiene Dios para su pueblo. Este plan divino incluye la liberación del pueblo de la esclavitud a la que eran sometidos en Egipto y el peregrinar por el desierto hasta llegar a la tierra prometida. Por su parte, Dios espera como respuesta del pueblo fidelidad a Él y obediencia a sus mandamientos.        

La parte humana del pueblo se deja ver cada vez que éste se enfrenta a una prueba. El hambre, la sed y el peligro en el desierto hacen que el pueblo rápidamente olvide las grandes hazañas que ha hecho Dios para protegerlo. Una vez más, toda la comunidad se queja con Moisés diciendo, “Ojalá hubiéramos muerto a manos del Señor en Egipto, cuando nos sentábamos junto a las ollas de carne y comíamos pan hasta saciarnos. Ustedes nos han traído a este desierto para matar de hambre a toda esta multitud” (Éxodo 16:3).           

Como en otras ocasiones, Dios demuestra su infinita paciencia para con su pueblo. “Voy a hacer que llueva pan del cielo. Que el pueblo salga a recoger cada día lo que necesita, pues quiero probar si guarda mi ley o no. He oído las murmuraciones de los hijos de Israel. Diles de parte mía: Por la tarde comerán carne y por la mañana se hartarán de pan, para que sepan que yo soy el Señor, su Dios” (Éxodo 16:4).    

El pueblo tiene poca fe en Dios. A pesar de todo lo que Dios hace para salvarlos, éste reniega en contra de Dios con la primera dificultad. Tanto así, que habían creado un becerro de oro para adorarlo. Dios ve estas faltas como muy graves y les entrega los mandamientos para que observándolos se puedan mantener en la fidelidad a Él. La tienda del encuentro, el lugar sagrado donde Dios se le revela a Moisés, se convierte en un símbolo de esperanza. El pueblo regresa a Dios para adorarlo.  

De hecho, la razón principal por la cual Dios libera a su pueblo de los egipcios es para que tengan la libertad de adorarlo solo a Él. Pues en Egipto, los Israelitas no tenían la oportunidad de construir una tienda o Iglesia para adorar a Dios. La tierra prometida es con el propósito de construir un templo en honor al único Dios. Lamentablemente, hoy día, hay personas que no adoran a Dios. De hecho, se está incrementando la adoración a Satanás. Hermanos y hermanas, Dios espera de nosotros fidelidad, cumplimiento de su ley divina y ante todo que nuestra adoración sea solo a Él. Dios los bendiga. 

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Pilgrimage to Columbia

7/30/2015

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    Rev. Johnson Lopez

    Father Lopez is Pastor of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Rochelle, IL.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission Statement
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    • Directions
    • Sacraments >
      • Eucharist
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      • Confirmation
      • Marriage
      • Vocations
      • Anointing of the Sick
    • Staff
    • History
    • Registration
    • Stewardship >
      • Why give?
    • Parish Boundaries
    • Cemetery
  • Calendar
    • Parish Calendar
    • Liturgical Roles
    • Religious Education
    • Liturgical Calendar
    • Holy Days of Obligation
  • Ministries
    • Pregnant? Need Help?
    • Religious Education >
      • First Communion Pictures 2020
      • RE Handbook
      • Religious Education Volunteers
      • Confirmation 2015
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      • For Parents
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Respect Life >
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    • Music and Liturgy >
      • Choir >
        • 3 J's and the Flock
      • Altar Servers
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    • Knights of Columbus
  • News
    • Diocesan Appeal
    • Bulletin
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    • Links
    • Diocese of Rockford
  • Prayer
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Offer a Mass