Scripture Reading: Numbers 16, 17
Brief outline of the chapters:
Numbers 16: Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebel against Moses and
Aaron. They challenge the leadership and priesthood, claiming that the entire
community is holy. In response, God demonstrates His support for Moses and
Aaron by causing the earth to open and swallow the rebels, along with their
families and possessions. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the
consequences of defying God’s chosen leaders.
Numbers 17: Following the rebellion, God instructs Moses to
collect a staff from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, with Aaron’s staff
representing the tribe of Levi. The staffs are placed in the Tent of Meeting,
and the next day, Aaron’s staff has miraculously budded, blossomed, and
produced almonds. This sign confirms Aaron’s divine appointment as high priest
and serves to quell any further dissent regarding the priesthood.
Lessons from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
St. Gregory
advises caution for individuals who, despite leading disciplined lives to
overcome carnal desires, may assert themselves as worthy of the priesthood due
to arrogance and selfish ambitions. When such individuals are able to control
the desires of the flesh, the evil one wounds them with the disease of
arrogance taking root in their hearts.
Korah, Dathan,
and Abiram deemed it beneath their status to remain in their allocated roles
and presumptuously sought the honour of the priesthood while questioning the
authority of those who were appointed to this ministry by the Lord. As a result
of their actions, the dissenters were swallowed by the earth, and the remaining
individuals were consumed by lightning.
Arrogance is paradoxical; while it is commonly understood as a feeling of superiority over others, it ultimately leads to a downfall, much like the fate of the rebels in this story from the Book of Numbers. In essence, those who elevate themselves above others often find themselves in decline. Therefore, arrogance should be more accurately defined as an “abject fall” rather than the commonly perceived notion of "superiority over others."
In Moses, we
are taught to exercise moderation and maintain humility regarding the virtuous
behaviour while continuing to exhibit a positive attitude. St. Gregory warns
that overcoming one form of desire does not eliminate the risk of succumbing to
other passions as any form of passion represents a lapse and leads to negative
consequences.
All passions
lead to downfall. Whether it is due to arrogance or any other passion, the
outcome remains the same- a downfall. We should be prudent to avoid all kinds
of fall.
Therefore, if
you observe someone attempting to spiritually purge themselves and earnestly
seeking to elevate themselves by joining the priesthood, understand that this
individual may be succumbing to arrogance. The priesthood is a divine
institution and ordination to this office is God's appointment and blessing
rather than a human initiative, as taught by the following incident in the Holy
Scripture.
Moses placed
rods from each tribe on the altar, and only Aaron’s rod miraculously took root,
blossomed, and bore nuts (ripe almonds). This divine sign indicated Aaron’s
heavenly ordination as a priest. The nut produced by Aaron’s rod symbolizes the
ideal priestly life. It is tough and dry on the outside, representing
self-control and discipline. Inside, it contains nourishing food, symbolizing
the hidden spiritual richness and virtues of a true priest.
St. Gregory criticizes priests who live lavishly, adorned in fine clothes and indulging in rich foods and pleasures. Such a life does not produce the true “fruit” of the priesthood, which is self-control and spiritual maturity. This type of fruit matures not from earthly pleasures or influences but from a higher, divine source. It represents a life dedicated to spiritual growth and inner strength. In contrast, a life of self-indulgence produces a different kind of fruit which is nourished by carnal pleasures and desires and lacks any spiritual depth.
St. Gregory
teaches that if we discover the life of a priest to be indulgent and luxurious,
similar to those who enjoy richness and fine amenities, then it would be
appropriate to reference the Gospel teaching: - “When I look at your fruit, I
do not recognize the priestly tree by it." i.e. "Your actions do not
reflect those of a true priest." [ paraphrased from St. Luke 6:43 - “No
good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit”]
Questions
for Personal Reflection:
1. Reflect- has my spiritual practices during this Lenten journey inadvertently
fostered a sense of superiority or led me to judge the spiritual lives of
others?
2. Can I identify moments when my ambitions have led me to question or
undermine the authority of those appointed to lead? How do I respond when I
feel tempted to assert myself as superior or more deserving than others?
3. Are there people in my life who help me see the value in different
roles and responsibilities, and how/what can I learn from them?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 117-120. 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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