Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 2021

INTRO:
Undoubtedly every summertime and every now and then, as a youth I would be heard to say:
“There’s nothing to do around here!”
Or
“There’s nothing in this refrigerator to eat!”

And surprisingly, SHE HEARD!!! My MOM out of nowhere would immediately say: “Don’t you dare start grumbling!”

AS a good mom she wanted HAPPY children and GRATEFUL children! Not grumbling, but GRATEFUL!

I am sure all of you here (and at home with our livestream) have experienced the grumbling of people here and all around the world these days.

Today there is grumbling about this political person or THAT political decision, whether it be for the pandemic, the vaccine, the immigration status, the border, equal rights, and so on….

For me at the tender age of 65, this current grumbling seems HEIGHTENED! LOUD! ANGRY! OFFENSIVE! And constant! It doesn’t seem to stop!

I do understand the importance of
“Speaking out”,
“Speaking up”,
“Rallying for a cause”.
I guess I want it a little more respectful.

Even the Israelites were disrespectful and grumbled as we heard in the OLD TESTAMENT TODAY. They were not happy with MOSES AND AARON, their leaders; they were not happy with the hoarfrost that was sent and spoke out angrily. Even the crowd at Capernaum who came looking for JESUS grumbled about what He IS NOT doing for them!

I cannot change history. You cannot change history, but we can change ourselves.

So, here is an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE on disrespectful grumbling….
A major way we can reflect the security, peace, and hope of salvation is by worrying less about certain topics.
God remains God regardless of what is going on!

It is God we want to speak out on.
It’s about God we want to speak up about.
It’s God we want to rally for.
Jesus teaches you and me: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

CONCLUSION

Do you see it? The Scriptures today want you and me to see that GOD is with us. God will provide and in practicality HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED.

Not hoarfrost, but BREAD FOR ETERNAL LIFE; for union with Him.
HOLY COMMUNION!

When we eat this special bread today, consecrated on this altar of sacrifice, we become HIM! To live in the world as He does.
One who DOESN’T GRUMBLE.
One who is respectful and
One who is THANKFUL.