Just a Basket Among the Reeds

~~~ Our Lady of Mount Carmel ~~~

 

~~~ Exodus 2:1-15a ~~~ Psalm 69 ~~~ Matthew 11:20-24 ~~~

 

Carmel is a place where Elijah lived in service to the Lord.

This feast of Our Lady was instituted for the Carmelites in the fourteenth century.

It honors the day in 1251 when the Blessed Mother gave the brown scapular to Saint Simon Stock.

This brown scapular symbolizes our relationship with the Blessed Mother of Carmel

entrusting ourselves into her protection.

 

I have a special affection for Our Lady of Mount Carmel

since that was the name of my parish

and where I went to school growing up.

 

 

Today's reading from Exodus is the beautiful story of the baby Moses.

It is a story of the far reaching providential care of God.

It is a story of sacrifice on behalf of a mother who loved her son.

She was willing to give him up in order to save his life.

It is a story of sibling love...Miriam protects her little brother.

It is a beautiful story of adoption.

The Pharaoh's daughter took in this male baby knowing

he was of Hebrew parents. 

This is a story of creativity...Moses was carefully placed in a basket

among the reeds where the young princess would come to bathe.

 

It is a story of love...

 

It is hard to picture Moses as a baby

 because we usually see him portrayed as the old man

 receiving the stone tablets from God.

God had plans for Moses from the moment he was born.

In spite of the fact that he was male and should have been killed

 like so many others his age,

God protects him.

 

This is a story of bravery...it took much courage for

the sister of Moses to approach the daughter.

She risked her own life to save her brother's life.

Her actions were also able to bring much happiness to their mother.

Miriam offers to recruit a 'nursing mother' to care for the baby.

 

This is a story of how a helpless infant floating in a basket

affected a young princess who was the 'enemy'.

 

Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her handmaid to fetch it.
On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying!
She was moved with pity for him and said,
“It is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

 

Moses, as we know, becomes one of the key figures of the Old Testament.

He is the leader of the people out of the desert.

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt...he gave them manna from heaven...

he provided water from the rock...and so much more.

Moses cooperated with God in good times and in discouraging times.

 

Working for God is no guarantee for an easy life.

Just look at the life of Moses. 

Moses lived a long life; God had lots for him to accomplish.

Tomorrow we hear more of the incredible story of Moses.

 

Blessings today...

the next time you look at an infant remember that God does indeed

have plans for this one little life.