Theophany and Responsibility

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our experiences of Divine Presence and contemplate our mission in response.

Encounter the Divine

The reading from the Book of Exodus presents Moses at the Burning Bush.

* [3:1–4:17] After the introduction to the narrative in 2:23–25, the commissioning itself falls into three sections: God’s appearance under the aspect of a burning bush (3:1–6); the explicit commission (3:7–10); and an extended dialogue between Moses and God, in the course of which Moses receives the revelation of God’s personal name. Although in the J source of the Pentateuch people have known and invoked God’s personal name in worship since the time of Seth (Gn 4:26), for the E and P sources (see 6:2–4) God first makes this name publicly available here through Moses. (Exodus, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 103 is a 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 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians is a warning against overconfidence from Israel’s History.

* [10:1–5] Paul embarks unexpectedly upon a panoramic survey of the events of the Exodus period. The privileges of Israel in the wilderness are described in terms that apply strictly only to the realities of the new covenant (“baptism,” “spiritual food and drink”); interpreted in this way they point forward to the Christian experience (1 Cor 10:1–4). But those privileges did not guarantee God’s permanent pleasure (1 Cor 10:5).

* [10:4] A spiritual rock that followed them: the Torah speaks only about a rock from which water issued, but rabbinic legend amplified this into a spring that followed the Israelites throughout their migration. Paul uses this legend as a literary type: he makes the rock itself accompany the Israelites, and he gives it a spiritual sense. The rock was the Christ: in the Old Testament, Yahweh is the Rock of his people (cf. Dt 32, Moses’ song to Yahweh the Rock). Paul now applies this image to the Christ, the source of the living water, the true Rock that accompanied Israel, guiding their experiences in the desert.

* [10:11] Upon whom the end of the ages has come: it is our period in time toward which past ages have been moving and in which they arrive at their goal. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke addresses Repent or Perish in the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.

* [13:1–5] The death of the Galileans at the hands of Pilate (Lk 13:1) and the accidental death of those on whom the tower fell (Lk 13:4) are presented by the Lucan Jesus as timely reminders of the need for all to repent, for the victims of these tragedies should not be considered outstanding sinners who were singled out for punishment.

* [13:1] The slaughter of the Galileans by Pilate is unknown outside Luke; but from what is known about Pilate from the Jewish historian Josephus, such a slaughter would be in keeping with the character of Pilate. Josephus reports that Pilate had disrupted a religious gathering of the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim with a slaughter of the participants (Antiquities 18:86–87), and that on another occasion Pilate had killed many Jews who had opposed him when he appropriated money from the temple treasury to build an aqueduct in Jerusalem (Jewish War 2:175–77; Antiquities 18:60–62).

* [13:4] Like the incident mentioned in Lk 13:1 nothing of this accident in Jerusalem is known outside Luke and the New Testament.

* [13:6–9] Following on the call to repentance in Lk 13:1–5, the parable of the barren fig tree presents a story about the continuing patience of God with those who have not yet given evidence of their repentance (see Lk 3:8). The parable may also be alluding to the delay of the end time, when punishment will be meted out, and the importance of preparing for the end of the age because the delay will not be permanent (Lk 13:8–9). (Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Andy Alexander, S.J. has good news for those of us who find ourselves at the midpoint of Lent and aren’t sure we have much to show for it.

Our Lord is the patient, compassionate gardener who is ready today to give us more time to produce fruit, by offering to accompany us with grace-filled care these days ahead. Part of the cultivation process is to return to the active, attentive, ongoing reflection that shapes our Lenten journey.  We can begin again with the simple question: “What is it you want to give me during the rest of Lent his year, Lord?” We can pray with desires like these; “Please open my heart to a closer, personal relationship with you.”  “Free me with your liberating graces to turn away from all that is selfish, judgmental, hard hearted.” “May the story of your self-sacrificing love for me fill me with the ability to love others as you have loved me.” “Make my heart like yours, allowing me to hear the cry of the poor as you do.” With these or similar words from my heart, Lent will come alive. (Alexander, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Lord's three visits through the Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Gospel,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The Lord also has something very fitting to say about a fruitless tree, 'Look, it is now three years that I have been coming to it. Finding no fruit on it, I will cut it down, to stop it blocking up my field.' The gardener intercedes... This tree is the human race. The Lord visited this tree in the time of the patriarchs, as if for the first year. He visited it in the time of the law and the prophets, as if for the second year. Here we are now; with the gospel the third year has dawned. Now it is as though it should have been cut down, but the merciful one intercedes with the merciful one. He wanted to show how merciful he was, and so he stood up to himself with a plea for mercy. 'Let us leave it,' he says, 'this year too. Let us dig a ditch around it.' Manure is a sign of humility. 'Let us apply a load of manure; perhaps it may bear fruit.' Since it does bear fruit in one part, and in another part does not bear fruit, its Lord will come and divide it. What does that mean, 'divide it'? There are good people and bad people now in one company, as though constituting one body." (excerpt from Sermon 254.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 13:1-9 invites us to look what happened to the Galilean Jews that Pilate killed (Luke 13:1-3). The people who heard of this tragedy asked Jesus what these victims had done to deserve such a fate. Were they being punished for their sin? Jesus refutes this logic and reminds his listeners that they were no greater sinners than anyone else. Instead, he warns, this tragedy should urge us all to repent.

God calls us not only to repent, but to “produce good fruits as evidence of [our] repentance” as well (Luke 3:8). This fruitfulness lies at the heart of Lent: Repent and be faithful to the gospel. The good news is that we are not left to bear fruit on our own. Jesus, our faithful Gardener, is here to help us face the areas of our lives that need repentance. He will tend the soil of our hearts, prune the branches that lead us to sin, and pour out his grace to help us grow.

“Thank you, Lord, for helping me to repent of my sins and bear fruit!” (Meditation on Luke 13:1-9, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the awe and fear in Moses' encounter with the burning bush and Yahweh. Knowing the name of God frees people to call on Him. Jesus' commentary on the calamities is a call to our responsibility. Friar Jude connects Jewish agricultural customs to the “perfect” time and a little more offered by Jesus for our fruitfulness.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes the importance of a practice of contemplation.

To begin to see with new eyes, we must observe—and usually be humiliated by—the habitual way we encounter each and every moment. It is humiliating because we will see that we are well-practiced in just a few predictable responses. Few of our responses are original, fresh, or naturally respectful of what is right in front of us. The most common human responses to a new moment are mistrust, cynicism, fear, knee-jerk reactions, a spirit of dismissal, and overriding judgmentalism. It is so dis-couraging when we have the courage to finally see that these are the common ways that the ego tries to be in control of the data instead of allowing the moment to get some control over us—and teach us something new!  

To let the moment teach us, we must allow ourselves to be at least slightly stunned by it until it draws us inward and upward, toward a subtle experience of wonder. We normally need a single moment of gratuitous awe to get us started—and such moments are the only solid foundation for the entire religious instinct and journey. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Spirit as we process the awe and wonder of our relationship with God and accept the care of the Gardener to produce fruit.

References

Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032325.html 

Exodus, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/3?1 

Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/13?1 

Meditation on Luke 13:1-9. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/23/1231425/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/10?1 

Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Why Contemplation? CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/why-contemplation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture net. Unless You Repent You Will Perish. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar23 

Grace and Gratitude

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.

Grace and Grand kids

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