Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Children often begin their spiritual development with blunt questions that can stump us. Some of those questions linger even into adult life, like: “Who is God?” or “What is God like?” People of all ages, including our best philosophers and theologians, continue to wrestle with those basic, fascinating and challenging questions.
Our Scripture readings today could be an indirect approach to some of those important “God Questions.” The burning bush account shows Moses being fascinated by something he can’t understand. First of all, he hears God calling him by name and then is commanded to remove his shoes. After all, he is standing in a holy place and about to receive a major revelation. God speaks not only as the God of Abraham, but with great tenderness refers to the present suffering of the Hebrew people in Egypt. God refers to them as the children of Israel. This is not the voice of an angry god of war but the voice of a father wanting to save and comfort his children. He sends Moses on a mission to free the Israelites, but Moses doesn’t have to go it alone. God promises to go with him.
The promise to “go with” is something that gives any child the courage to step forward in courage. Could it be that a child’s willingness to respond to this promise of accompaniment is the critical piece that Jesus had in mind when he said only the childlike will have the desire and openness to receive the full meaning of God’s intentions for us?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections