(We have concluded St. Gregory's commentary on the life of Moses as
detailed in the 40 chapters of the Book of Exodus. Furthermore, St. Gregory
examines aspects of Moses's life as portrayed in select sections of the Book of
Numbers, which will be analysed in this and subsequent posts.)
Scripture
Reading: Numbers 12
Brief
outline of the chapter: Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, express their
discontent with Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. Their underlying
frustration, however, is with Moses’ unique relationship with God and the
authority he holds. God hears their complaints and reaffirms Moses’ special
status, explaining that He speaks to Moses directly, unlike the visions and
dreams given to others. God chastises Miriam and Aaron for speaking against
Moses and Miriam is struck with leprosy. Moses, demonstrating his humility and
compassion, pleads with God to heal Miriam. God agrees but requires Miriam to
be isolated outside the camp for seven days as part of her healing
process. The Israelites wait for her to be restored before continuing
their journey.
Lessons
from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
St. Gregory
asserts that any wrongdoing originating from malice cannot prevail against an
individual who faithfully follows God, similar to the way Moses did. After
Moses’ close relationship with God is established, Miriam and Aaron become envious
of their brother. The terms which St. Gregory uses to describe envy are- ‘passion
which causes evil’, ‘the father of death’, ‘the first entrance of sin’, ‘the
root of wickedness’, ‘the birth of sorrow’, ‘the mother of misfortune’, ‘the
basis of disobedience’, ‘the beginning of shame’, ‘the death-dealing sting’, ‘the
hidden weapon’, ‘the sickness of nature’, ‘the bitter poison’, ‘the self‐
willed emaciation’, ‘the bitter dart’, ‘the nail of the soul’, ‘the fire in the
heart’, ‘the flame burning on the inside’.
Envy, in the
form of the serpent, led to the banishment of humanity from Paradise and
separation from the tree of life. Envy drove Cain to commit the first murder.
Envy caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery.
St. Gregory
explains that envy is not concerned with one’s own misfortune but is
troubled by others’ good fortune. To an envious individual, success is not
defined by personal achievements but rather by the adversities faced by others.
Envy rejoices in others’ misfortunes and is grieved by their good deeds.
It is said
that vultures, which feed on corpses, are adversely affected by the presence of
perfume. Vultures are attracted to decayed matter. Similarly, individuals
afflicted by envy are negatively affected by the success and happiness of their
peers, much like how vultures are affected by perfume. Conversely, they are
drawn to others' misfortunes, exploiting them for their own gain, akin to a
vulture extracting hidden decay with its beak.
Envy
challenged many before Moses but crumbled when it confronted this great man.
This shows Moses’ spiritual strength and progress in his journey with God.
Moses had attained ‘apatheia’ wherein he was not disturbed by passions. Envy targeted Moses but he was
beyond envy’s reach due to his spiritual stature. However, Aaron and Miriam
fell victim to envy’s influence. Their envy manifests in their criticism and
opposition to Moses.
Moses does not
retaliate or defend himself against their envy. Instead, he ministers to their
condition, showing compassion and seeking God’s mercy on their behalf. Moses’
ability to withstand envy and his intercession for others are attributed to his
close following of God and his reliance on God as his guide to virtue. St.
Gregory emphasizes that a person fortified with virtue is protected from the
attacks of envy and malice. Moses’ spiritual armour is God Himself, the
impenetrable protection, who shields him against such ‘darts’ of evil. The Holy
Scripture teaches- “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14); and
with this well protected armour, Moses deflected envy.
Questions
for Personal Reflection:
1. Reflect on the blessings in your life, which due to your privilege, you
would regard them as ‘basic’ or ‘mundane’. Are there areas in my life where I
feel envious of others’ achievements or relationships?
2. As we commemorate the healing of the blind on the Sixth Sunday of the
Great Lent-reflect on the feelings of envy (or comparison mindset) that is making
me blind to the blessings God has bestowed on me? Bartimaeus longed to be
healed- do I even recognize my spiritual blindness?
3. When I see others facing consequences for their actions, am I quick to judge, or do I show compassion and pray for their well-being, as Moses did for Miriam?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 111-113. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978)
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a
paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited
above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during
Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views
of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original
book for a comprehensive understanding.
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