12 March 2023 3rd Sunday of Lent

But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’

From Exodus 17:3-7, NRSV

The people of Israel were journeying through the desert and so were short of water. Not only did they complain to Moses but saw him as responsible for their plight and feelings were running so high that they had even threatened to kill Moses. God allowed Moses to find a remedy for this situation by telling him to strike a rock with his staff and that water would issue from this rock. The lack of faith that the people had shown in Moses equated to lack of faith in God since God had appointed Moses. Moses decreed that there should be a permanent reminder to the people of this failure in faith and so decreed that the place should be named Massah (meaning “testing”) and Meribah (meaning “quarreling).

• • Why did Moses want the name of this place to be remembered?
  • When have you found it difficult to be faithful – and what helped you at these times?

Pray for the grace to remain constant in faith – and especially during those times when your faith seems “dry”.