Christian Journey analogy
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses. Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to come to a halt in the Jordan when you reach the edge of the waters.”
No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan, … than the waters flowing from upstream halted, backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed,…Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho. … all Israel crossed over on dry ground,…”
These words describe the Israelite crossing of the River Jordan from the desert into the Promised Land. It is fitting that Joshua, the name in Hebrew for Jesus, should be the final guide of the people of God at that moment. Therefore, it is equally fitting to review the Israelite journey leading to the river crossing.
Wandering in the Desert
The Christian journey is analogous to the Israelite journey in the desert. Like the Israelites, we are born into the slavery of Egypt represented by our sin. The Israelites were saved by crossing the Red Sea, and thus left the slavery of Egypt behind them.
The Israelite crossing of the Sea prefigures our Baptism. St. Paul sees this in 1 Cor 10:1-7. Not only were our ancestors baptized into Moses, they were baptized in the sea.
St. Paul also notes that the Israelites ate manna, the spiritual bread that came down from heaven. Further, the Israelites drank the spiritual drink that gave them life, water that flowed from a rock that Paul describes as Jesus. This prefigured the Eucharist.
Yet, having been baptized and fed spiritual food along the way, the journey of the Israelites was not without problems. They were tested for 40 years, and suffered many hardships. They were surrounded by enemies who opposed God’s plan, had to fight them and persevere. The Israelite journey is not unlike our own journey as we encounter the hardships and battles of life.
Finally, arriving near their goal of the Promised Land – God chose Joshua, rather than Moses, to lead the Israelites across the Jordan.
Our Sacramental Crossing into the Promised Land
Moses pointed to Jesus (Dt 18:15-18), but in God’s final plan it is Joshua (Jesus) who will lead His people across into eternal life. One day we will be called to cross the River Jordan and be ushered into God’s promised destiny of Heaven. That remains our hope.
Joshua, standing in the person of Jesus, in the Israelite journey allegory, does not lead Israel to the other side by himself. Jesus was present along with Joshua, represented in the Ark of His covenant as the Word, our Bread of Life and High Priest, but there is more!
Holy Priests were the visual instrument God used to mediate against the final obstacle to Israel’s crossing. Their faith and servile ministry preceded and made possible Israel’s safe entry into the Promised Land.
We now see the priestly presence in the Israelite crossing, as a veiled form of the future Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum. It is truly fitting that God still uses his Holy Priests to minister to us at the time of our crossing, and to help usher us into eternal life.
Jerry this is well written. I am the Joshua the priest ministering to those crossing to the other side of life everyday in the hospital. Thanks for the insight.