Moses

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Moses

Burning   Bush

Stand   Holy   Ground

What Is His Name

I Am

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Exodus 3:13

"But," said Moses to God," when I speak to the Israelites and say to them 'The God of your fathers has told me to come to you,' if they ask me, 'What is His name?' what should I say to them?"

Reflection

Have you ever taken some time to reflect on your name? It is often very revealing when we discover how we got our name. Sometimes it can come from a parent, grandparent, or someone else on our family tree. A famous person who meant a lot to our parents can be the inspiration for our name. We could be named after a special saint who has some wonderful characteristics.

In our scripture passage from Exodus, Moses has an amazing encounter. He is tending the sheep of his father-in-law and is amazed at seeing a bush that is on fire but not consumed by that fire. 

Naturally he thinks this is rather odd but that's only the beginning! As he comes close to this burning bush to check it out, he hears a voice calling out to him.

He quickly realizes that this is no hallucination or ordinary voice. It is the voice of God.

God tells him that the ground on which Moses is standing is holy ground. I can just imagine Moses shaking at this point.

He was probably wondering why God would want to talk with him. He didn't have to wait long to get his answer. God had a mission for Moses.

The mission was a very challenging one: to lead the Israelites out of Egypt where they were enslaved and into a special land, a land that would be overflowing with milk and honey. 

In many ways Moses was probably the most unlikely one for God to choose for this mission. He had killed an Egyptian officer and had to flee or face death himself. However, God (as always) knows whom to pick.

Moses wants to avoid this request in any way he can. He poses several questions to God so that he can walk away from this very challenging task.

Moses asks for God's name. The answer he gets is "I AM". It is the sacred name that a devout Jewish person will never say. It is too special to be repeated. There are several alternatives that are used instead, such as Adonai (the Lord). 

The name reveals that God is always present to us. God was present with Moses in leading the people out of Egypt and helping him deal with the difficulties he encountered in calming the people as they struggled in the desert. 

It also reassures us today. God will be with us. 

Yes, there will be hard times. We will face many obstacles and difficult situations.

God lets us know, as God let Moses know, that we are never alone. 

It's in the Name!

1. Is there a story behind your name?

2. How would you react if you heard a voice coming from a burning bush?

3. Why was Moses so reluctant to accept the mission that God wanted to give him?

4. Have you ever been reluctant to accept a call that God was giving you?

5. Do you feel that God is always present with you?

6. What do you see as you ponder Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Test

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Test

Own   Sins

Selfrighteous   Judge   Condemn

Put Your Rock Down

Mercy

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 8:5 and 6

The scribes and the Pharisees spoke to Jesus when He was in the Temple area, "In the law of Moses women who are caught in the act of adultery like this woman should be stoned to death. What do you say?"

They said this to test Him.

Reflection

When we hear the word test, it can generate some anxiety. Am I prepared for this test? Did I study the right material? What will happen if I fail?

The scribes and the Pharisees in our reading from John want to trap Jesus. If Jesus approves of the stoning of this woman who has been caught in adultery, He could be in trouble with the Roman authorities because they alone had the power to execute someone. If He went against the law from Moses, He would be in trouble with the religious authorities. It was a no-win situation for Jesus.

Jesus moves everyone in a different direction. He gets them to reflect on their own sins and failings. How can anyone pick up a stone to throw at someone when each of us is guilty of being selfish or hurtful to others? None of us is perfect.

It can be easy to be self-righteous. We can too easily look down on others and feel superior. "I would never do that." Yet we conveniently overlook all the other things we have done that are wrong, silly, or stupid. 

It's easy to judge the actions of others and forget all the mistakes we have made. We judge others many times even before we know all the circumstances surrounding their actions. We can condemn others before we have all the facts.

How many times have we heard something on the news about a crime and swiftly rushed to a judgment? A few months later an item is buried several pages back that talks about the charges being dropped because the account given by the witness was false. We don't even hear about the exoneration. In our mind the person is still guilty!

Jesus gets the people to put their rocks down and to leave this woman alone. He shows us that there is another path we can take, the road of reconciliation and forgiveness. 

We can refrain from judging and offer mercy in place of condemnation. Our test becomes an evaluation of our ability to become more understanding and less blind to our own failings.

Jesus passed the test He was given with His insight into the human condition. 

Are you prepared to pass the tests you face every day to be less judgmental and more merciful?

1. What do you feel when you hear the word test?

2. How do you try to avoid being self-righteous?

3. Why is it so easy to judge someone before we have all the facts?

4. How was Jesus able to pass the test that He was given?

5. What do you feel as you ponder Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)