A Reflection from Joseph Fogarty, O.P.

Over the past several days, the first reading the Church has assigned for the day has been from Book of Exodus, recalling the flight of the Israelites from Egypt and the giving of the Ten Commandments. In a recent "Daily Inspiration from the Dominican Shrine of Saint Jude," Joseph Fogarty, O.P., uses a scene from this series of events to reflect on attitudes:

"'The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.' Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, 'Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.' Exodus 14:5-18; Matthew 12:38-48

"The scribes and Pharisees demand a sign but no sign will be given to them. The kind of sign they seek is beyond the type of signs that Jesus performed, but some extraordinary wonder such as the one performed by Moses, described in today's first reading. During the flight of the Israelites from Egypt, pursued by Pharaoh's whole army Moses parted the waters so that they could cross the Red Sea. The scribes and Pharisees are hardened in their attitude toward Jesus. They are skeptical about his identity, even though his life and ministry speak for themselves. Still, they look for a sign which will be a definite 'clincher' of who he is. Attitudes are usually formed over a long period of time. Once they are in place, they are hard to dislodge. Since attitudes are so lasting, it's well every so often or stand back and take a look at our own. Which of my attitudes may need to be reevaluated?"

- Joseph Fogarty, O.P.