*Sacred Scripture* Moses Striking the Rock – Giaquinto
May 16
This lovely artwork, by Corrado Giaquinto, shows Moses striking a rock in the desert with his staff, miraculously causing water to flow out and fill a river. The Jews, who have been nearly dying of thirst, drink eagerly.
Nm 20:7-13
Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
7and the LORD said to Moses:
8Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and in their presence command the rock to yield its waters. Thereby you will bring forth water from the rock for them, and supply the community and their livestock with water.
9So Moses took the staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, where he said to them,a “Just listen, you rebels! Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?”
11b Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice* with his staff, and water came out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.
12* But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: Because you did not have confidence in me, to acknowledge my holiness before the Israelites, therefore you shall not lead this assembly into the land I have given them.
13These are the waters of Meribah,c where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and through which he displayed his holiness.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/20
Saying the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always.
1-A prayer from Raphael the Archangel:
*While you are on this earth, you must praise the Lord God and give him thanks.
2-A prayer from Tobit and Tobias:
*They began to sing hymns of praise, giving thanks for all the mighty deeds God had done while his angel Raphael had been with them.
3-A simple Jesus prayer:
*Lord, Lord, Jesus Christ…Son of God…have mercy on me…Be kind to others…Work Hard…Be joyful.
4-Another prayer:
*When all that God asks of us is to be quiet and keep ourselves at peace-attentive to the secret work He is beginning in our souls-Be Empty and See That I Am God.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Jn 17:3