The water was bitter. But the meaning of the story was multi-layered. Moses led the emancipated slaves into the desert and they were terrified. Where would the food and water they needed come from? The first source they encountered was bitter--the waters of Marah (meaning bitter). Moses found a log, tossed it into the water, and it became fresh. The story is about fear. And for modern scientific constructs of personality, its Maslows hierarchy of needs. You cant give meaningful attention to higher notions of love and community if youre hungry, thirsty, or cold. Or at minimum, it just more difficult. How many of us have been on a family car trip, forgoing food and drink to make it to the next stop and everyone in the car is at each others throats because they are hungry and thirsty? Pull into that truck stop, get a grilled cheese in your belly and Shazam! Everyone is sweetness and light again. It has larger societal applications. Raise the collective anxiety of a cultural about basic needs and watch the vitriol ferment. Take care of basic needs and watch as people perceive each other with curiosity and fascination instead of fear and hatred. Throw logs in the water. Make the bitter waters clean. -Fr. TimSean
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:33:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015