Failing to reach the Promised Land

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 18:15-20), our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives a promise that would make any Christian giddy:

Amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

But in the first reading (Deuteronomy 34:1-12), the greatest of all Old Testament prophets, through whom the Law of God was given and who regularly spoke with God face to face, dies just short of the Promised Land.

It would be easy to say to point out that Moses – as great as he was – came long before the Incarnation, redemptive death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and that those who believe in Christ have infinite benefits that Moses did not enjoy in his lifetime.

Yet it would be foolish to pretend that we too – and even some of the greatest Christian saints – may experience disappointment in life.

Even in our spiritual lives, we may feel that we may never reach the Promised Land.

Yes, we may have the grace of Christ – crucified and risen – but we are also followers of Christ and should never be surprised or disappointed that we may also be called to follow Him on the way of the Cross.

Yet, if we are faithful to the grace and truth and love of Christ, no matter how hard or long our personal Way of Sorrows may be, the infinite power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – in accordance with His loving and infinitely wise plan – will bring us to the eternal life and joy of heaven He promises.