Word to the Wise
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - Fifteenth Wednesday in Ordinary Time
[Exodus 3:1-6; 9-12 and Matthew 11:25-27]When the Lord saw [Moses] coming over to look at [the burning bush] , God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
The Old Testament is filled with important moments in the history of God's dealings with humans. There is the creation of the human person in the image and likeness of God, the slaying of Abel by his brother, Cain, Noah and the flood, the calling of Abraham. However, the story of God's appearance to Moses in the burning bush stands out as a pivotal moment because of God's self revelation as I AM and Moses' efforts to avoid doing what I AM wants. It is summed up in Moses' saying, "Who am I that I should go and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Many of the great spiritual writers of the church have commented on this incident. Part of its attraction is the face to face, as it were, encounter with God and the complete revelation of God's name. But, there is a further attraction, at least in my opinion. An encounter with God has consequences. This isn't just a sort of, "Look Moses. You've lived there and you were in Pharoah's house!" Here we are talking about a figure who would come to personify God's covenant with the Chosen People. It is the mystery of God's call. The dramatic quality of the Burning Bush - fire which does not consume - can distract us from the possibility that we may all have a "burning bush" at some point in our lives. I can recall my own struggles to decide about religious life and the same persistent "voice" saying, "You must do this." That same "voice" continually said also, "I will be with you!" Sometimes it has meant dealing with "Pharoah" and sometimes with the "people." In the days ahead, the story of Moses will provide us with much to think about. For the moment, the Burning Bush reminds us, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush is aflame. But only he who sees, removes his shoes." AMEN
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