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 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.
Let us pray:
O God, the Author of justice and peace, incline our hearts and wills to stand in the breach where we witness injustice taking place. Give us the courage to stand with those who cannot defend themselves. As we partner with the vulnerable, let the oppressors see your presence at work. Amen.
“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
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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