Word to the Wise
Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Third Sunday of Lent
[Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13: 1-9]Moses said to God, "But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?" God replied, "I am who am." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you." [Exodus]
There are certain events in the bible that are "pivotal" - everything that follows hinges on them. Most folks could probably identify the "exodus" the Babylonian Exile, the birth and death and resurrection of Jesus, the conversion of St. Paul as very important "moments." The revelation of God in the "burning bush" is another of those moments. Here there is a direct revelation of God to a human person in a particular time and place that in many ways is the beginning of the history of our faith. Theologians and mystics have written volumes on this one encounter, and probably will continue to do so. For the rest of us, it might help simply to read the passage and spend a few moments with it. Get out your bible and read the whole story. (Some will remember Charlton Heston in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!). A single shepherd with sheep in the desert sees a bush burning but not burning "up." Curiosity (?) leads him to approach the sight and the rest is history! God speaks to Moses from the bush and the message is direct and simple. God is God, the Jews are God's people, Moses is going to lead those people out of slavery in Egypt! It is enough for Moses to hear that God is the one Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshiped. The rest of the encounter is about Moses trying to talk God out of appointing him leader! It didn't work. For us, today, here and now, in Lent, a challenge arises from Moses' experience. How does God speak to us, to you, to me? What has led us to faith and life as a believer? We could spend some time thinking about the "burning bush(es?) in our faith history. How has God revealed God's self to us? How have we heard God's voice? The words of Ps. 95 come to me: "O that today you would hear God's voice. Harden not your heart!" The revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ is a "burning bush!" The revelation of God in the light/voice that blinded St. Paul is a "burning bush." The revelation of God in the confident faith of a beloved person in our life is a "burning bush." We could try to think of others as well. Instead of saying, "Listen Lord, your servant is speaking," we could say "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." AMEN
config
view
logs
4096.0 KB
92 ms
4
