December 12

Exodus 16:1-8

16  1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?" 8 And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD."

Grant, Almighty God,
that since Thou hast made Thyself known to us in
so plain a manner, not only by Thy law and prophets,
but also by Thine only begotten Son,
that the knowledge of Thy truth ought to have already
struck deep roots in us.
O grant that we may continue firm and constant
in Thy holy vocation, and make continual progress in it,
and ever hasten forward to the goal.
And do Thou so humble us under Thy mighty hand
that we may know that we are paternally chastised
by Thee, and profit under Thy discipline,
until being at length purified from all our vices,
we shall come to enjoy that immortal life
that has been made known to us by Christ,
when we shall be able fully to rejoice in Thee. Amen.