Reflection - Mission

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071519.cfm
Exodus 1:8-14, 22
Matthew 10:34-11:1

An opportunity was missed!

Just a little from after (Exodus) and a little from before (Matthew) would have helped .

If we read just a bit further in the story of Moses we come to a section where God selects Moses as His spokesman before Pharaoh. You know the general story, burning bush and all. What you may not be aware of are the finer details of the rather lengthy exchange between God and Moses. While I’m sure there’s a serious lesson to be heard as the story unfolds, I can’t help but think that whoever was responsible for the written record had a fine sense of humor. Let me offer a colloquial version for your consideration:

God: I want you to be my spokesman before Pharaoh.

Moses: Who am I to do such a thing? I’m a nobody.

G: I will be with you.

M: But I don’t even know your name; and “your” people don’t either.

G: That’s ok. Just say to them: this is my name. I AM WHO I AM!

M: Big deal. Just say that. Ha! They will not believe me.

G: Why do you think I gave you the flashy tricks. Just use those to demonstrate my power.

M: But . . . But . . . But . . . I am not eloquent

G: Forget about the words. When it’s time, I’ll give you the words you need to say.

M: Hey! I’d really rather not. How about asking someone else.

G: Ok, Mr. Pansy. I’ll send your brother with you.

Now I suppose that everything could have happened just as recorded. And I can imagine that Moses may have been reluctant to return to Egypt. And I might surmise that Moses was really as tongue-tied or as filled with stage fright as the text suggests. Or maybe the author just wanted the scene to play out in such a way that none could forget it. In any case, we might well conclude that Moses herein provided a type of response that we can justifiably consider an alternative to the response the twelve gave Jesus when he sent them on a mission to preach.

The mission of the Apostles is not something we get to hear about in this gospel reading. We would have had to start at the beginning of the chapter to read about that. Nevertheless, the words of Jesus which we do hear are part of an extensive list of directions, cautions and warnings with which Jesus prepares the Apostles for their assignment.

Now the Apostles responded to Jesus with the enthusiasm of youth; Moses responded to God with the guardedness of middle age. The question is, "how do we respond?" As I peruse the conversation between Moses and God it seems to echo with familiarity.

“I’m a nobody.”

“I don’t know You or your words well enough.”

“They won’t believe me anyway. They’ll probably just laugh.”

“I’m just not good at quoting Bible verses.”

“Hey! I’d really rather not.”

“How about asking someone else.”

Sound familiar to you too?

It occurs to me that a simple, small step into giving witness, even for the most reluctant, is to acknowledge the truth. There is no fate. There is no luck. There is no good fortune. There are no chance events. There are blessings. There are cautions. There are evils. There is good.

Acknowledging the truth of life’s events is a simple beginning to witness. So forget: “Boy, did I luck out.” Rather say: “Boy, did God bless me.” Forget: “I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.” Rather say: “God put me at the right place at the right time.”

Forget: “I was fortunate not to get involved in that scam.” Rather: “God blessed me with enough wisdom to avoid that scam.” Forget: “Lady luck gave us a beautiful day.” Rather: “God blessed us with a beautiful day.”

Bear witness to the truth and ignore the temptation to credit the non-existent god’s of fortune, luck, and chance. It’s a relatively easy step into taking on the mission to which we are called.

SUMMARY

The mission of the Apostles is not something we get to hear about in this gospel reading. We would have had to start at the beginning of the chapter to read about that. Nevertheless, the words of Jesus which we do hear are part of an extensive list of directions, cautions and warnings with which Jesus prepares the Apostles for their assignment.

Now the Apostles responded to Jesus with the enthusiasm of youth; Moses responded to God with the guardedness of middle age. The question is, "how do we respond?"