Every minute of our lives are filled with the blessings we asked for and often receive unasked blessings. But many of us often think about the times we have asked for something and when our needs are not fulfilled end up complaining about these situations rather than recalling the blessings we have received. When we realize that we are nothing without God and all that we have are a blessing from God and behave with humility then the Lord will pour his undying blessings on us.

The Old Testament through the behavior of Israelites shows us how we blame God forgetting all the blessings He had poured on them. When the people were wandering hungry in the desert the Lord heard their cries and send them Manna from heaven. This surprised the people of Israel and they were happy when they realized that it was God who sent them Manna from heaven (Exodus 16:15). When God blessed the people with the Manna from heaven, the Psalmists glorifies them in Psalm 78:25 saying, “Human beings ate the bread of angels;” The experience of Manna showed the people the love and protection of God towards his people and they experienced the presence of the Lord in their midst. Within days of receiving the Manna, the people who were sated by the Manna initially started to raise their voices against God who blessed them with Manna and against Moses the spokesperson of God. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” (Numbers 21: 5). It is not because the Manna had become tasteless overnight but it was the change in the attitude of the people that prompted them to raise their voices. The Manna provided was and is the same everyday but then why do the people revolt against God and reject the Manna he provides?

Do the very graces bestowed by God upon us become a reason for us to reject the love of God?  When we reject the love of the creator of the universe and run behind the earthly blessings of God like, wealth, power and other attractions of life, then we too falter like the people of Israel in our lives. Instead of being grateful for the blessings showered on us by God if we start complaining about the blessings we have not received then we forget the unending love of God. Let us strive to be grateful for the innumerable blessings he showers upon us and experience his love and care in our lives.

Fr Prince Chakkalayil CST