In today’s first reading, Moses is exhorting the people to wake up and consider what God has done and is doing for them.

In the language of today, he might say, “Open your eyes! Take a look around you!”

Wondrous deeds were done for them by God, yet even with that, many stubbornly chose to focus on their problems and not be open to the gifts and power of God.

How like that we often are. Sometimes we would rather “belly-button gaze” than truly experience our Maker and Savior. Has God spoken to us from fire? Maybe not, but God does speak to us every day, many times a day.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast day was very recent, on July 31, was inspired by God to create the daily Examen and widely share it – and this is one simple way to realize God’s hand in our daily insights and encounters.

If we do that – as well as many other practices and prayerful efforts – we will not only see the hand of God in our lives, but we will find it easier to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus, has he teaches in today’s Gospel. And that is how we truly find ourselves and the lives we are intended to live.