Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 4th Week of Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;
Exodus 2:1 to 22; 1st Corinthians 12:27 to 13:3; Mark 9:2 to 13:
“He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.” (Exodus 2: 20)
Moses has killed an Egyptian and has been exposed by an angry Hebrew man, maybe even the same Hebrew man whom he spared the beating. He is on the run. Just as he got in trouble for saving a man from a beating, he later defends women from harassing shepherds. Perhaps these are the traits that God saw in Moses and therefore called him to the Burning Bush and enlisted Moses to do more work. I’m just pondering here.
Moses is invited to “Break Bread” in the home of Reuel and later marries his daughter (Zipporah). Some translations say he was invited to a meal. I like the term “Break Bread.” I missed our own breaking of the bread during the “physical distancing” because of Covid 19. I also like, and admire, the courage of Moses. He continues in his way of courage even though he is on the run because of his troubles in Egypt. God notices his courage and righteousness and will make good use of his character for the benefit of the enslaved Israelites.
The father of the girls also recognized the goodness of Moses and wanted to welcome him into his home. Moses possessed traits the father hadn’t seen in the local men who would rather bully women at the well. Moses didn’t back down when trouble came, be it his Hebrew kin, the Egyptians, except for the pharaoh himself who could have him killed, or even mean spirited shepherds in a foreign land. With Moses, there was a difference between right and wrong. So the same should be with us as well.
When we see an injustice happening we have a moral obligation to intervene. I feel we are doing that for the people of Ukraine, but not enough. Russian bullies are killing and harassing the people of Ukraine. I pray that the day will come, and soon, when we will break bread with them, in their restored homes. Nothing is impossible for God. God creates us, sustains us, and will, if asked, make bullying to cease in all the world. Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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