Joshua 5:9-12

Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.Joshua 5:8-12Your brother was lost. He has been found. He was dead and he has come back to life.

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9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you. Therefore the place is called Gilgal to the present day.10 While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.11 On the day after the Passover they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day12 after the Passover on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Board of Trustees, Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and United States Catholic Conference. Administrative Board. (1996).

The Book of Joshua is the first of the historical books and opens with Gods Commissioning of Joshua.1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses minister, 2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Chapter 5 is devoted to the Israelites preparations prior to entering and securing the Promised Land.

Gilgal which means rolling is a place in the Jordan River Valley not far from Jericho.Gilgal was the Israelites first camp after they crossed the Jordan, and where twelve stones were set up as a memorial of their crossing (Joshua 4:19-20).They celebrated the first Passover in the Promised Land.This was the second time God had parted the waters and their second new beginning.

The Red Sea was crossed and the people went from slavery to freedom.Crossing the Jordan River was a new beginning as permanent land holders rather than landless desert nomads.

For the past 40 years God had fed his people with manna which would now stop (v. 12) because the people had no further need of it, they were

in the Promised Land. God can and does provide for his people when and if needed, but he also expects His people to use their God-given talents and resources to provide for themselves.This reading tells us how the people have decided to return to Godly ways and as we know the blessings of the Lord will abundantly fall upon them.

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