Parashas Mattos - Masei

Our Shabbos Parsha this week is a double Sedra of Mattos-Masei, just after Rosh Chodesh Av and the start of the Nine Days, leading up to Tisha B'Av.
In Mattos,Moshe gives HaShem's Instructions of Vows and Oaths, to the heads of the 'Mattos,' - 'Tribes.' The Torah discusses in detail the Laws of Vows and Oaths. Moshe first addressed the 'Mattos,' - 'Tribal,' Leaders, for they had the power to annul vows that could be annulled.A Neder, changes the object in question's status that one is making a Vow over, like making something forbidden, whereas in an Oath, one may prohibit oneself for doing something. The act of making a Vow or Oath, actually allows a person to make a Law they must themselves abide by. After the discussion of Vows and Oaths and who may annul them, HaShem instructs Moshe to take vengeance on Midian and then he would be gathered to his people. Any other person would have delayed such an order, knowing that at the end of such an order they would pass away.But not our beloved Moshe. For HaShem, he would do anything and put his own feelings aside.
Israel goes to war against Midian,with Pinchas as a leader, and Midian is defeated and Bilaam son of Beor is slain.Moshe rebukes the officers, for allowing the women , that caused the men to be enticed to idolworship,.to remain alive.
Laws allowed for Kashering the utensils, and division of the spoils are then discussed..
Reuvein and Gad approach Moshe, asking that they get their portion of land on the other side of the Jordan,instead of in Canaan with half the Tribe of Manasseh.Moshe got angry with them as HaShem had assured us we would take our portions in Canaan.But these tribes assured Moshe they would fight alongside their brothers and so they were permitted. This ended up to be a mistake on these two and a half Tribes, as later on in history, when Israel was invaded, it was their area that got attacked first. We must always appreciate what HaShem Gives us.HaShem Knows best. 
Parashas Masei as the word 'Masei' - Refers, is 'Journeys,' and this Sedra starts off with the Journeys, the Children of Israel took and the places on the way, forty two to be exact, and the ups and downs that the people experienced,- from the time that the Jews left Egypt,till reaching the Jordan . Our Rabbis tell us that the time together was so special to HaShem ,through these 42 places,that HaShem Wanted a note of it, almost like a Father who takes his son on a journey and accounts for every place they stop at , it being special for him ( the father ) . Every moment that HaShem Spends with us is so very special to Him and so , should be very special to us.We should thus learn to spend every moment we can, with HaShem, every Yom Tov, every moment we pray, every moment we can do a Mitzvah for HaShem,every moment with HaShem is very precious and should not be rushed , but done with concentration and love and holy intention.
Then, the Sedra explains the borders of Israel and then goes on to talk of the Cities of Refuge to which an unintentional murderer can flee.There Were six cities set aside (3 in Canaan and 3 on the other side of the Jordan). The Sedra and also the Book of 'Bamidbar' - 'Numbers' ends on the Laws of how Tribal Land is not to make rounds from Tribe to Tribe, but is to remain in that Tribe , as part of that Tribe's Lineage and we are told of Zelophechad's holy daughters who married into their own Tribe..
So, we have two Parshas, where the one starts talking of Vows and Oaths and the next Parsha, of the Journeys of the Children of Israel.
What lesson can we learn from these two mentions, in these two Sedras at this time of the Hebrew year, asking for Repentance as we make our way toward the day of Tisha B' Av.
The Laws of Vows and Oaths,reminds us to control what comes out of our Mouths and to keep our word and be honest, and never to be careless with what we say. The section of our Journeys, teaches us to make a physical accounting of the steps we take in our lives, Given by HaShem , and to plan our destiny very carefully, according and only to the Will of HaShem. It teaches us that every step we take in our life's Journey, must be toward HaShem, just as each step we took in the Wilderness then, led us closer and closer to HaShem and His Holy Land of Israel.
The fact that Moshe instructed first , the leaders of the Tribes, teaches us that we must be leaders and masters of our own mouth and actions . We must control our own destinies, by being good and kind and keeping on HaShem's Path and doing all His Mitzvos always, no matter what experiences we face in life .That must be the 'Masei,' - 'Journey' that we take, every day - every Hour - every Minute, every second we breathe, for as we know, each and every breath we take, is HaShem's Gift to us and must be used in His Honor and for Him ..
We are now in the Nine Days headed toward Tisha B' Av. Tisha B' Av started when the Spies came back with an evil report on the Land and they slandered the Land of Israel.That night the people cried for no reason, and ever since, this date throughout our history,this has has been a date to cry for our people.This has been the date of Pogroms, Final Solution, Spain signing an edict to remove us Jews from Spain, Cusades, Both our Holy Temples being destroyed,Chmielnitsky Massacres and many other tragedies. For this we mourn.This is what happens when going off the path and not listening to our Creator's Words, but making up our own Mind , Chas Ve Shalom and going our own way, to pointless physicalities, and not following HaShem's Torah. At this time of year for us Jews, may we take special note and an accounting of our own lives and look deeply into what HaShem Expects of us and learn to oblige.Learn to keep HaShem's Commandments always and to travel only toward HaShem and use our mouths only in the service of HaShem . And may this day of Tisha B' Av be turned around and become a day of Joy and Happiness in which we enter into Gan Eiden with Mashiach, for we are told that on this day of the greatest tragedy, at the End of Days, it will be turned around to a day of Blessings and Eternal Joy.
HaShem Gave us His Holy Torah of Light. We are to grasp onto It and not let It go.That must be our 'Journey' - 'Masei,' as part of the 'Tribes,' - 'Mattos' of Israel.We are to hold onto It and never ever let It go Chas Ve Shalom . So reach out with your Neshoma and Heart, and forever Journey to HaShem. And let our Mouths always speak the Sweet Words of HaShem and may we forever Journey within HaShem's Love. 
I wish HaShem With Love, a Beautiful Special Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with Love, and to all my fellow Yidden, a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love.