Cure D'Ars

Numbers 20:1-13; Psalm 95 If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Matthew 16:13-23

Before we get to St. John Vianney, Cure D'Ars, a quick glance at Moses in the first reading.

As I remind you, over the past few weeks we have been following the ISraelites on their Journey through the desert from Egypt in hot pursuit of the promised land.

Through this journey the people have rebelled and complained and grumbled against God and Moses. It seems with every turn of the page from Exodus to Deuteronomy, there is someone group wanting to have Moses head.

Moses as been exceptional through it all. He has not lost his cool, as they say, except for today.

Moses lets the people get to him. Listen to his response after God instructs him to bring water from the rock for the Israelites and the livestock, "Listen to me you rebels!"

Moses has found his breaking point. Rather than instructing the rock to give water he strikes it twice with anger and bitterness on his heart.

Thus, God is displeased, "because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."


This place is known as the "waters of Meribah, where the children contested against the Lord and where the Lord revealed his sanctity."

Meribah means the place of quarrels. Notice that it is in this place of contention and quarreling that God chooses to reveal his sanctity.

Where are our waters of Meribah in our life. where are he springs of contention and hostility toward God and the leaders he has sent to guide us? Pause to day and invite God to reveal his sanctity in that place of dispute so that your heart might be refreshed with his living waters, his spring of life.

Also, learn from Moses. Bitterness and anger can keep us fro showing forth the sanctity of God. We must always get a grip on ourselves so that we do not grab at God's people.

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Today is the feast of John Vianney, the patron priest of parish priest.

John Vianney said that the life of a Christian boils down to simply praying and loving. He understood that a christian could not love if he/she did not pray. It was prayer that stretched the capacity of the human heart to love as we ought so as to fulfill our vocation in life.

St. John Vianney made a point to sanctify each hour, every hour with a simple prayer. EVery time the clock would strike a new hour, he would pause and reflect and give thanks to God who gave him more time and then he would pray, "Blessed be God, courage my soul, time is passing eternity approaches, may I live as I hope to die. BLessed be the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God."

Thus, he prayed on the hour, every hour and in praying his little heart became stretched to love as he ought and thus revealed the sanctity of God. May it be so with us.

John Vianney, pray for us.