Readings at Mass: Tuesday of 15th Week of Ordinary Time
MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
> Exodus 2:1-15
> Psalm 69:3,14,30-31,33-34
In today's first reading at Mass we are introduced to the life of Moses in the second chapter of the Book of Exodus. In the early verses we read of his birth and how he came to live amongst the Egyptian royalty. However, the story quickly shifts into Moses' adult years.
In Exodus 2:11 we read: "On one occasion, after Moses had grown up, when he had gone out to his kinsmen and witnessed their forced labor, he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen. Looking about and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." Moses is moved at the sight of the horrific slavery and compulsively reacts by murdering the Egyptian who was abusing an Israelite. To hide his act, Moses buries the Egyptian in the sand. However, what Moses thought was buried in his past soon taunts him. "The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So he asked the culprit, 'Why are you striking your companion?' But he replied, 'Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?' Then Moses became afraid and thought, 'The affair must certainly be known.'" (Exodus 2:13-14)
Moses has something buried in his past ... literally. However, his past quickly catches up to him. His deepest fear is realized and others find out about his past. Moses runs. He flees to Midian. He runs away from what is buried in his past.
Pope Benedict XVI once said: "The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort, but for greatness." (1) Yesterday we talked about fear ... and today we admit that many of us have things buried in our past. This week may not be comfortable, but remember: "The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort, but for greatness."
Stay with me this week ... don't panic ... don't run ... trust the process ... we'll walk through this together.
On the journey of life many of us make mistakes. Many of us fail. Many of us fall. And, along the way, many of us grow ashamed of things in our past. Because of fear and shame, we, like Moses, bury those the shameful things of our past. We like Moses, spend a lot of energy "fleeing to Midian" in that we run away hoping that what's buried in the past will never be found out.
Here's the thing ... with this pattern we're never really free. Things may be buried, but they're not forgotten. Often times our memories whisper to us. Things that we've buried in our past often influence the way we really look at ourselves ... or look at God ... or influence the way we think God looks at us. Our deepest fear is that if anyone finds out, we like Moses, will be rejected and a failure.
Galatians 5:1 encourages us: "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." You don't have to run. You don't have to fear. You don't have to live enslaved to things buried in your past. Jesus has come ... for you. He has come "to bring glad tidings to the poor ... to proclaim liberty to captives ... recovery of sight to the blind ... to let the oppressed go free". (Luke 4:18)
Jesus has come for freedom. Jesus has come to bring you freedom. He wants to "bring glad tidings" in your poverty. He wants to "proclaim liberty" to where you are captive. He wants to bring "recovery of sight" in your poverty. He wants to let your "oppression" free. All for freedom. All for your freedom. "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."
You don't have to be afraid. I repeat: you don't have to be afraid.
What's buried in your past? Where are you not free. Trust the process, trust the Lord. Don't act compulsively like Moses did. Don't run, don't tell anyone your secrets. Simply talk to Jesus and ask Him to show you if there is anything buried in your past that has you unfree. And ... check back tomorrow as we walk together, letting the Holy Spirit guide where we go next.
(1) Address to March for Life pilgrims
© Fr. Mark Toups, 2013
In Exodus 2:11 we read: "On one occasion, after Moses had grown up, when he had gone out to his kinsmen and witnessed their forced labor, he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen. Looking about and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." Moses is moved at the sight of the horrific slavery and compulsively reacts by murdering the Egyptian who was abusing an Israelite. To hide his act, Moses buries the Egyptian in the sand. However, what Moses thought was buried in his past soon taunts him. "The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So he asked the culprit, 'Why are you striking your companion?' But he replied, 'Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?' Then Moses became afraid and thought, 'The affair must certainly be known.'" (Exodus 2:13-14)
Moses has something buried in his past ... literally. However, his past quickly catches up to him. His deepest fear is realized and others find out about his past. Moses runs. He flees to Midian. He runs away from what is buried in his past.
Pope Benedict XVI once said: "The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort, but for greatness." (1) Yesterday we talked about fear ... and today we admit that many of us have things buried in our past. This week may not be comfortable, but remember: "The ways of the Lord are not comfortable, but we were not created for comfort, but for greatness."
Stay with me this week ... don't panic ... don't run ... trust the process ... we'll walk through this together.
On the journey of life many of us make mistakes. Many of us fail. Many of us fall. And, along the way, many of us grow ashamed of things in our past. Because of fear and shame, we, like Moses, bury those the shameful things of our past. We like Moses, spend a lot of energy "fleeing to Midian" in that we run away hoping that what's buried in the past will never be found out.
Here's the thing ... with this pattern we're never really free. Things may be buried, but they're not forgotten. Often times our memories whisper to us. Things that we've buried in our past often influence the way we really look at ourselves ... or look at God ... or influence the way we think God looks at us. Our deepest fear is that if anyone finds out, we like Moses, will be rejected and a failure.
Galatians 5:1 encourages us: "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." You don't have to run. You don't have to fear. You don't have to live enslaved to things buried in your past. Jesus has come ... for you. He has come "to bring glad tidings to the poor ... to proclaim liberty to captives ... recovery of sight to the blind ... to let the oppressed go free". (Luke 4:18)
Jesus has come for freedom. Jesus has come to bring you freedom. He wants to "bring glad tidings" in your poverty. He wants to "proclaim liberty" to where you are captive. He wants to bring "recovery of sight" in your poverty. He wants to let your "oppression" free. All for freedom. All for your freedom. "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."
You don't have to be afraid. I repeat: you don't have to be afraid.
What's buried in your past? Where are you not free. Trust the process, trust the Lord. Don't act compulsively like Moses did. Don't run, don't tell anyone your secrets. Simply talk to Jesus and ask Him to show you if there is anything buried in your past that has you unfree. And ... check back tomorrow as we walk together, letting the Holy Spirit guide where we go next.
(1) Address to March for Life pilgrims
© Fr. Mark Toups, 2013
> CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S UPDATE ON LUMEN FIDEI: ENCYCLICAL FROM POPE FRANCIS
TODAY AT IPF
Today, the 169 seminarians continue their course on the Liturgy. Today the men will learn more about how the Church has entrusted as steward of the Liturgy, as well as learning how Mary models for us how to receive the Spirit as we should within the Liturgy. The 22 priests and seminarians here for the Spiritual Exercises are on day 18 of the 30-day retreat.
TODAY'S QUOTE FROM POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI
"Out of love for us he (Christ) took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability, and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life, to a share in the life of God himself. As we ponder this great mystery in our hearts… let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us, and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life."
― Radio Broadcast, 'Thought for the Day', BBC Radio, December 24, 2010
IPF "LIVE" TOMORROW NIGHT! JULY 17, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 PM CST!
IPF will stream it annual "Friends Night" live over the web! Here's a look at last year's program ...
