Exodus 32:7-14 / John 5:31-47
In life, when the going is tough, and we are besieged with overwhelming problems, one of the things that will cross our minds is to quit.
In a boxing match, they would call it "to throw in the towel".
So whether it is in the work-place, or in a marriage or even in serving the Lord, when the going gets real rough and tough, we will be tempted to throw in the towel and call it quits.
In the 1st reading, when God wanted to punish His people for idolatry and to make Moses the founder of another great nation, Moses could have considered that offer.
After all, ever since he brought them out of Egypt, he had nothing but problems after problems from them, and he could have just called it quits and abandoned them.
Jesus could also have walked out of the descendants of those people that Moses had to deal with.
They were as stiff-necked as their fore fathers and refused to believe in Jesus, despite His signs and miracles.
But in Jesus and also in Moses, we can see a genuine love and compassion for their people.
For Jesus, and also for Moses, all their many words had only one purpose - it was for the salvation of their people.
We will meet with difficulties and problems from stiff-necked people.
But we are called to look at and learn from Jesus and Moses.
They showed God's love and compassion to their people.
May we learn likewise and do the same.