17 July, 2013. Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week

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Exod 3:1ff. GOD calls to Moses from the burning bush and sends him to save his people, Israel.

Matt 11:25ff. God reveals the mystery of salvation to those who become as simple as children.

First Reading: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Who can be God’s Instruments?

Today Jesus lets us eavesdrop on a secret moment of revelation, for we are not simply told that he stole away to spend time in prayer; we are given the actual words of his prayer. Exodus tells of Moses in reverential awe as he approaches the burning bush, and he hears the revelation that God would liberate a new people, for the world’s salvation. In Matthew, Jesus prays: “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to you I offer praise; for what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children.”

A clear and simple knowledge of God is given to children and is learned from one who is the ultimate Son of God. As the Son and Messenger, Jesus knows only what his Father reveals within him; and he is commissioned to share this great revelation with other children of God, who are continuously begotten by the Father, through faith. What is the mystery known above all to children? To know oneself as child is to realize our total dependence, our state of being begotten and receptive of life. At the deepest source of our life, God our Father dwells within us; here we are in touch with our most profound self, our secret mission, our heavenly name, written in the book of life (Luke 10:20).

Such a mission came to Moses from the burning bush. As this call reached into his deepest self he simply responds, “Here I am.” With absolute obedience and total spontaneity, he seeks to know the name and nature of God – and his request is answered, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Later in the same chapter God reveals his most sacred name of Yahweh – the One who is always there with you.

One Comment

  1. I’d just like to say that I am thankful today for the Church. I am thankful for the chapel, for the people, for God giving us those spaces of quiet and peace when the world’s gone mad – to sit, be still, remember and know.

    Whatever else – all the problems and ‘issues’ with whatever. When the chips are down at times – I am just thankful to have it. I don’t mean to suggest only in ‘bad’ times that realisation comes, is there. I am just grateful today. And realising that might be an answer itself to a prayer. Asking that I’d become more grateful – thankful for the many blessings in life.

    And thanks to the priests and sisters and religious for all the work you do and little thanks you get at times. I honestly don’t care if people are ‘traditional’, ‘liberal’ or moonwalking space kadets like me 😉

    We are all human. And that’s all that really matters at the end of the day. Jesus chose to become human that we might become fully human. So it’s not so bad really – just being human.

    One day at a time.

    Thank you.

    Reply

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