Maureena’s Torah Reflections
Parashat Beshalach. Exodus 13.17-17:16
This Parasha has a powerful lesson for me: how easy it is to believe in God when miracles happen, but less so in times of loss.
The Parasha has two parts, divided equally: the first part is the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the loftiness of the song sung by the Israelites after crossing the sea (58 verses of the 116 verses):
“Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea” (Ex. 15:21).
This is the world of miracles—”they believed in God” (Ex 14:31).
In the following 58 verses, they went into the wilderness. After only three days “they complained” twice (15:24; 16:2) no water to drink, water which is bitter, and no bread to eat. Then people asked, “Is God among us, or not” (17:7).
Prepared by Prof. Sr. Maureena Fritz nds
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4