The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the circumstances in our lives through which the Spirit makes us aware of the Presence of God.
The reading from the Book of Exodus describes Moses' experience at the Burning Bush.
* [3:11] Who am I: this question is always addressed by an inferior to a superior (to the ruler in 1 Sm 18:18; to God in 2 Sm 7:18 and its parallel, 1 Chr 17:16; 1 Chr 29:14; 2 Chr 2:5). In response to some special opportunity or invitation, the question expresses in a style typical of the ancient Near East the speaker’s humility or gratitude or need of further assistance, but never unwillingness or an outright refusal to respond. Instead the question sets the stage for further support from the superior should that be needed (as here).
* [3:12] Sign: a visible display of the power of God. The ancient notion of a sign from God does not coincide with the modern understanding of “miracle,” which suggests some disruption in the laws governing nature. While most any phenomenon can become a vehicle for displaying the purposes and providence of God, here the sign intended to confirm Moses’ commission by God seems to be the burning bush itself. Since normally the giving of such a sign would follow the commission rather than precede it (see Jgs 6:11–24), some see Israel’s service of God at Sinai after the exodus from Egypt as the confirmatory sign, albeit retroactively. It is more likely, however, that its mention here is intended to establish the present episode with Moses alone as a prefigurement of God’s fiery theophany to all Israel on Mount Sinai. Serve God: Hebrew ‘-b-d, “serve,” includes among its meanings both the notion of “serving or working for another” and the notion of “worship.” The implication here is that the Israelites’ service/worship of God is incompatible with their service to Pharaoh. (Exodus, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 103 offers thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus thanks His Father.
* [11:25–27] This Q saying, identical with Lk 10:21–22 except for minor variations, introduces a joyous note into this section, so dominated by the theme of unbelief. While the wise and the learned, the scribes and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus’ preaching and the significance of his mighty deeds, the childlike have accepted them. Acceptance depends upon the Father’s revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant. Jesus can speak of all mysteries because he is the Son and there is perfect reciprocity of knowledge between him and the Father; what has been handed over to him is revealed only to those whom he wishes. (Matthew, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)
Eileen Wirth shares the message she takes from today’s reading from Exodus in which God both commissions Moses to free Israel from pharaoh and promises to be with him as he does it. Would he do anything less for us? This passage seems particularly pertinent to retirees because we get to make choices now which were impossible when we were raising kids, coping with our jobs or both.
I’m also noticing that God assigns me to help people I’ve known for years like a dear friend with dementia. I stumbled into taking her on weekly “little adventures” to exciting places like Trader Joe’s and city parks. While it’s painful to watch the decline of a brilliant person, I can’t think of a more rewarding way to spend a morning.
As I drive away, I often think of Mother Teresa saying that loneliness is the greatest poverty. Something as simple as taking a friend out of her house for coffee feels like a great way of fighting this form of poverty. And I know God is with us.
So, listen for your assignments and be grateful because however humble your task, God is with you. (Wirth, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Revealed to babes,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).
"And he revealed these things to children. To which children? Not those who are children in age but to those who are children in respect to sin and wickedness. To them Jesus revealed how to seek the blessings of paradise and the things to come in the kingdom of heaven, because thus it was well pleasing before God that 'they should come from the east and the west and that they should lie down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but that the sons of this worldly kingdom should be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:11-12).'" (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 26) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 comments that the Scriptures are full of unlikely heroes. Jacob engaged in fraud and trickery to get what he wanted; David was as impulsive as he was zealous; Rahab was a prostitute and belonged to an enemy tribe; and Moses, whose story we begin today, was a murderer who struggled with a speech impediment. Each of these people seemed unfit to serve the Lord, yet each one ended up playing a profound role in salvation history. While we may view these people as heroes of the faith, we should never forget where and who they were when the Lord first called them. They are proof that, again and again, God chooses people who seem the most unlikely and least equipped rather than the candidates we might be more inclined to select instead. And praise God that this is true! It means there is hope for each of us!
God has a beautiful plan for your life. He invites you to share his goodness with the world. He will use your strengths, and even your weaknesses, to lead people closer to him. You don’t need to ask, “But who am I?” Instead, let the Spirit remind you: God has chosen you—and he always pours out grace on those he chooses! That means you can respond just as our Blessed Mother did: “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
“Yes, Lord, I believe that you can work in and through me today.” (Meditation on Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the two opposite reactions of people to theophany like that of Moses. Moses, a weak man with a speech impediment, is chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of persecution in Egypt. Friar Jude reminds us that faith is about trusting as is characteristic of the childlike.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Episcopal bishop and member of the Cherokee nation Carol J. Gallagher who reflects on how her Indigenous ancestry and the profound suffering of her people enrich her understanding of heaven and hell.
To me, then, heaven and hell are concepts that are part of all creation. Heaven and hell exist within and beyond the confines of our world of space and time. We can participate in heaven by living in harmony and respect with all of creation or in hell by bringing greed, selfishness, and disease upon the whole earth.…
We are endowed by the Creator with power to live our lives for the well-being of all. Heaven and hell are about living (or not) in right relationship with all of creation, of honoring or dishonoring all, and knowing the love of God by sharing it with all of our relatives: human, plants, trees, four-legged, winged, water, and earth all woven together. (Rohr, 2023)
We are grateful for the moments of revelation when the Spirit of God connects with our inner child to reveal Grace and gratitude in the events of our day.
References
Exodus, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/3?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25
Meditation on Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/19/736843/
Psalms, PSALM 103. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (2023, July 19). Heaven and Hell Are Here and Now — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/heaven-and-hell-are-here-and-now-2023-07-19/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Heavenly Things Revealed to Infants. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul19
Wirth, E. (2023, July 19). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071923.html
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