The past few weeks, our first readings, from the Book of Genesis, have been taking us through the beginnings of our faith journey, from the creation of the universe through the death of Joseph. Yesterday we started the next leg of our journey with the Book of Exodus.
Quite often in life, when we look back, we live in regret because of missed opportunities. This happens for many reasons: pride, indifference, inaction, or it could be that we took things into our own hands instead of relying on the grace of God. Regardless of the reason, we suffer the consequences of lost opportunities because we either did not, or could not, see the grace of God at work in our lives. This was the case for Moses and for the countrymen of Jesus.
The first reading (Exodus 2:1-15) begins the narrative about how Moses was called to free his people from slavery and return them to their ancestral home. The narration of his birth takes the form of a creation and redemption story. Like Noah, Moses is rescued from threatening waters and delivered by God from destruction. Like Noah, Moses is saved by an “ark”, in his case, a papyrus basket. The irony of both stories is that the water that threatened to destroy them would be the very waters that saves them. This theme will again be repeated when Moses leads the people through the Red Sea when the waters will separate for them to allow them to walk through dry shod. In a real sense, they pass from death to new life.
Moses, as the deliverer, anticipates Jesus, the New Moses who would save us by the waters of baptism. St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). St. Paul could have used a good editor. St. Paul, on another occasion, adds, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child, then also an heir, through God” (Galatians 4:4-7). Definitely could have used an editor!
Moses jumped the gun the first time he attempted to save his people. Instead of waiting for God to act, he took matters into his own hands. After seeing one of his fellow Jews struck down by an Egyptian, acting on impulse, Moses “killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.” He failed to realize that we are saved by grace, not by human effort. It was not the proper time for him to begin his role as the deliverer of his people. He was not even recognized as a leader of his people yet, as seen in the next incident when he tried to settle a quarrel between two of his countrymen. “He said to the man who was in the wrong, ‘What do you mean by hitting your fellow countryman?’ The assailant replied, ‘And who appointed you to be prince over us, and judge? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’” “When Pharaoh heard of the matter, he tried to have Moses killed, but Moses fled and made for the land of Midian” (Exodus 2:15).
When he left Egypt, Moses was forty years old (remember that number “40”), and he had to spend another forty years in Midian tending sheep and learning how to be a true shepherd after the heart of God. He had to be formed and learn patience while waiting for the call of God. Yet, God is gracious, and God is persistent. Even in our mistakes, the plan of God cannot be derailed. We might slow down His plan, but His plan is inexorable.
In the gospel, Jesus, the New Moses, also very much identifies with His people, just as Moses did. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are yet is without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38)
Most of the people who heard Jesus’ message did not respond to the Good News. They did not take advantage of the opportunities of grace offered to them. “Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent. ‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell.” These three towns were privileged to have Jesus ministering to them. Miracles were performed in their sight. The Good News was preached.
But the privileges they received did not meet with a positive response. Those from Chorazin and Bethsaida lacked faith in Jesus and did not repent from their sin. When Jesus prefaced His judgment on the towns, He began with the word “alas”, a word of pity and sorrow in keeping with their not recognizing their sinfulness. As a result, they would be more condemned than Sodom and Gomorrah, the most notorious cities in the bible, infamous for sexual immorality and wickedness. The Lord remarked, “For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement Day with Tyre and Sidon as with you.” They had been told by our Lord what was wrong, and they still did not repent. Those who know what is right and continue to do evil will be more condemned than those who are ignorant of their sins and whose consciences are not enlightened. God does not condemn a man who is ignorant because his capacity to distinguish good from evil is mitigated. But if we have been instructed in the truth and still walk the way of evil, then our judgment will be more severe. Ezekiel had the same warning for the righteous man who commit sins. (Ezekiel 18:26)
We, too, are called to reflect on the lost opportunities of God’s grace in our lives because of our attachment to our sins. We, too, will suffer the consequences of our rebellion against God. Because of pride and self-will, we take things into our own hands, just as Moses did. God will humble us. We will pay a price for not listening to God’s word and for taking things into our own hands. Jesus warns us against pride and sin that hinder us from allowing God’s grace to enter into our lives. Jesus asks to allow our graces to flow out to others whom we are called to bless with what we have received.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!