Doom of the daunted

In today’s first reading (from Numbers 13), the Lord has brought the Children of Israel to the Promised Land, but they are afraid to go forward. They tremble, cry, and complain.

What follows are the inevitable consequences of their wallowing in fear.

By my life, says the LORD,
I will do to you just what I have heard you say.
Here in the desert shall your dead bodies fall.

This is in stark contrast to the woman in today’s Gospel (Mt. 15:21-28) who is not daunted in the slightest by what seems like an insulting rebuke.

May you and I never be daunted in following the Lord and in doing what is right.