Lift up your staff : A miracle instrument in the hands of Moses

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 16th Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mt 12:38-42*

*First Reading : Ex 14:5-18*

*Lift up your staff : A miracle instrument in the hands of Moses*

*1) The Staff of Moses*

The Staff of Moses, also known as the *Staff of God* is a staff mentioned in the Bible as a walking stick used by Moses.

This Staff was used to produce water from a rock, was transformed into a snake and back, and was used at the parting of the Red Sea.

*2) The burning Bush and the Staff*

At the burning bush, God asks a simple question to Moses : *What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.*

*The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.*

 *Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.*

This is how the Staff in the Hands of Moses gets the power to work miracles 

*3) Moses was asked to lift up the Staff to work Miracle*

In today's First reading we see that, God asks him to lift up the Staff, when the People of Israel Cried to the Lord, in the anguish

Accordingly Moses lifted the Staff over the Red Sea, and there happened a great miracle of separation of Water and creating a Way for the people to cross to the other Side 

The Staff in the Hands of Moses Worked as a miracle instrument

*4) Moses' Staff and Our Life*

God transformed the rod, in the Hands of Moses as the Miracle Staff, which helped him as well as the people of Israel to know the Glory of God, and the protection from the evil one 

Like wise God has given us many things, which symbolizes as Gods' Staff, which works many miracles in our life 

The Scripture is the Staff of God

The Faith is the Staff of God

The forgiveness is the Staff of God

The sacraments are the Staff of God 

The Eucharist is the Staff of God

The prayer  is the Staff of God

Humility  is the Staff of God

Divine Love is the Staff of God

Generosity is the Staff of God

Cross is the Staff of God

Sacrifice is the Staff of God

*5) Life up the Staff*

This is a technical expression in our context 

Lifting up the Staff symbolizes the Use of the Staff or the rod

The moment Moses lifted up the Staff, it worked as a miracle instrument

When we lift up or use the above mentioned instruments as God's Staff, they work wonderful miracles in our life 

*6) Am I ready to use God given Staff?*

The Staff of God is very powerful and it works as miracle instrument in our life 

The only condition is that we need to lift it up or we need to use it in our daily life 

So  am I ready to lift this God given Staff and use it in my daily life, to experience God's Glory?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*