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Year C: Third Sunday of Lent
Second
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12
In his letter, St Paul takes us
back to the Exodus and the wonders that God did for His people
as they journeyed through the desert - guiding them with pillars
of cloud and fire - giving them manna - pouring water from a
rock. A the people benefited from these great gifts - but, as
Moses knew to his cost, they were very quick to complain when
things seemed to be going wrong.
Complaining is a very human thing to do - but St Paul is keen to
warn the Corinthians - and us - against it. It seems so serious
to him that he sees the complaints of the Israelites as one of
the main reasons that so many of them died in the desert. Strong
stuff!
What is the problem about complaining? Many of the Psalms are
fine examples of “complaint” - and they have an honoured place
in the Scriptures. How are they different - and what can we
learn from them?
There is a form of complaining that goes nowhere.
We all know people who love complaining.
No matter how you try, you can’t answer the complaint - or make
it feel better. They seem to take pleasure in complaining and
being miserable - almost wilfully refusing to see anything good
in the world or in people. And this is where the sin lies.
It is not the complaint that is wrong - but the attitude that
goes with it.
Many of us know the great release that can come from having a
good moan to someone we trust - especially when that person
“takes us out of ourselves” and makes us laugh at ourselves - or
offers an insight that takes the sting out of the situation.
This is how the “Complaining Psalms” work. The Psalmist has a
good go at God - and then, right at the end, sees it all in
proportion - remembering the good things that God has done - and
will do again. The complaint gives way to a prayer of trust and
confidence. This is not a cop-out - or born of a sudden panic
that “you can’t speak to God like that”. It is a resolute
turning away from being negative to a positive belief that the
God who created the universe and who knows when a sparrow falls
from the sky also cares about His human creatures.
One day, perhaps, we’ll all be holy enough not to complain -
but, until that happy day, we can perhaps try to end our
complaint with a prayer of trust - and remember the good things
that we have already received - and look forward to the good
things to come!
What does it mean for me?
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How does today’s reading help you to
develop a “real” relationship with God?
Have you any experience of being angry with God? What did you do?
What did God do – at the time – and since?
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