I Will Be With You

Homily for Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

The character of Moses and the story of the Exodus are very important in the Hebrew Scriptures. I have often heard it said that if one wishes to read the books of the Old Testament, the Book of Exodus should be the starting point. The character of Moses is intimately connected to the covenant relationship that exists between God and the children of Israel. It is that covenant relationship that gives rise to all of the other books. One cannot understand any of the stories of the Hebrew Scriptures without knowledge of the covenant that was forged by Moses atop Mount Sinai.

Moses is considered a real hero, instrumental in the salvation history of God’s people. He is admired for his strength, his bravery, his faith, and his courageousness in confronting the leadership of Egypt and freeing the people of Israel.

Today’s reading from Exodus gives us a look at a Moses with whom we can relate. God calls Moses by name from the burning bush and tells him that the cry of the people living in slavery has been heard. God sends Moses to deliver them from captivity. We can relate to him because he is filled with doubt about his own ability to do what God asks of him. In fact, Moses was asked to be God’s spokesperson. However, Moses has a speech impediment and is doubtful about whether or not he will be able to represent God coherently. God set aside Aaron, the brother of Moses, to be his voice. God’s simple answer to the doubts that Moses raises is: “I will be with you.”

Today we hear Jesus giving praise to the Father and tells us that to really know the Father we must be childlike. Perhaps this means that, like a child, we should be open and humble and the seekers of the truth. Moses put his trust in God and answered God’s call. In the same way, we need to be open to whatever it is that God is calling us to do. We must trust that God will lead us where we need to be; and like a child, we need to grasp the hand of God and follow. God gives us the same promise that Moses heard: “I will be with you.”

Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we renew God’s presence in our midst.