Moses was furious, impatient with the Israelites' impatience, destroying the Law God had given him for the people. At times, we can also identify with the Israelites' sense of exhaustion, frustration and impatience. How often do we find ourselves working on a project or a cause of social justice, expecting that surely we will succeed if we persist in doing the right things to further the cause or event? When we have setbacks or run into obstacles, the temptation to lose faith in ourselves, in others, and even in God is strong. Let us not lose hope in God, because God is always good to us.

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us of how we receive the gift of salvation, the Kingdom of heaven. We go through life, at times doing God's will, but all too often failing in sinfulness by our weaknesses and selfishness. We are now only an insignificant member of the Church, yet when we live a good life, following and imitating Jesus, we become like the smallest of seeds that becomes a large bush giving shade or the yeast that leavens the bread.