Ready For God’s Work

Wednesday: 17 July, 2013 –– 15th Week in Ordinary Time

Exodus 3:1–6, 9–12 / Matthew 11:25–27

Ready For God’s Work

There was a time when Moses thought he could help his people. He had been raised in Pharaoh’s household, yet had an empathy for the Hebrews. One day he intervened between an Egyptian and a Hebrew slave and killed the Egyptian. He had to run for his life (Exodus 2:1–15).

Moses had forty years of exile, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. It seems he had resigned himself to obscurity. Any grandiose ideas were long gone.

Then there was a burning bush––only it was not consumed. God, the Consuming Fire (Hebrews12:29), was manifesting himself. It was time for Moses to fulfill his calling.

It was then that Moses expressed one of the most important characteristics of godly leadership: Who am I....?  In other words, “I am not adequate for the job.” 

Whenever we think we are capable of doing God’s work, we are not. It is when we know that I can’t do this unless God helps me that we can be effective. If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor (Psalm 127).

This is one way to understand Jesus in today’s Gospel: Father.... you have hidden these things from the wise and learned [but] revealed them to the childlike.

We come to the Lord as little children, knowing we are helpless apart from his mercy, wisdom and power. Each day we pray, “I’m yours––do in me and through me what you will.”  Then we are ready for God’s work.