Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 / Matthew 13:47-53
Israel's experience of God while in the wilderness was so dramatic and spectacular as compared to our experience of God in the present times.
They saw the presence of God in smoke and thunder, in cloud and fire, in the radiance on Moses' face, in wonders and miracles.
God was journeying so closely with them that they know when to continue their journey and when to stop by the indication of the cloud that covered the tabernacle.
On the other hand, our experience of the presence of God seemed to be so bland and flat.
There is no smoke and thunder, no cloud and fire, no wonder and miracles. There is also no need to talk about what is radiating from our faces.
Yet, there is no doubt that if more is given, then more is also expected.
Hence if the more the profound signs of God's presence are manifested, then the lesser will there be room for doubts and unbelief.
We are called to walk by faith and hope for the eternal things that we cannot see.
Yet, we also must be like the householder in the gospel who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.
In other words, we must believe that God had revealed and manifested Himself to His people in the past.
As for the present, we must pray that with faith we will be able to see Jesus in the Sacraments. That is the one thing necessary and that would be enough.