ARE YOU GOING TO COMPLAIN FOREVER?
“With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained.” –Numbers 21:4-5
Mass Readings: March 20
First: Numbers 21:4-9;Resp: Psalm 102:2-3,16-21; Gospel: John 8:21-30
Listen to the Mass Readings
God’s people complained about the manna He freely gave them daily for years. Although the Lord had freed the whole nation from slavery to Egypt, they complained against the Lord and Moses (Nm 21:5, 7). “In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died” (Nm 21:6). The Lord loves us too much to condone our selfish ungratefulness. We either repent or die in our sins of thanklessness (see Jn 8:21, 24). If we choose to remain ungrateful, we will exist forever in a hell of selfishness and complaining.
In hell, the words “thank you” have never been said. If there would ever be a good day in hell, the residents would automatically complain about it so much that it becomes a “hell of a day.” In hell, everyone is claiming to be God; so everyone else is a false god to be dethroned and smashed. People die from complaining, but their complaining doesn’t die. It persists forever to make hell that much more hellish.
Our addiction to self constantly spews out complaints while choking off gratitude. How can we kick this addiction? Jesus, Whose name means “Savior,” alone can save us from self-destruction (see Rm 7:24-25). Believe in Jesus. He said: “You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM” (Jn 8:24).
PRAYER: Father, “I’m forever grateful to You. I’m forever grateful for the cross.”
PROMISE: “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize that I AM and that I do nothing by Myself. I say only what the Father has taught Me. The One Who sent Me is with Me. He has not deserted Me since I always do what pleases Him.” —Jn 8:28-29
PRAISE: When Joan became a young widow with small children, she was lost and did not know what to do. It was trust in the Lord that pulled her through. “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust” (Mk 5:36).
