TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR C
Exd 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51
1 Tim 1: 12-17; Lk 15:1-32
PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD
After about 400 years of wondering and slavery, God had heard the cry of his people and had come down to save them. He sent Moses to lead them out to freedom and the promised land. On this journey, when they came to Sinai, Moses went up to the mountain to meet God. After a while, fearing that he may have died, they made a golden calf for themselves and worshiped it declaring that, “this is your God Israel” (Exd 32:4). God was upset and sought to destroy the people. This story somehow is the story of most Christians and the church as a whole.
The first reaction of God to what was happening was to tell Moses, “go to your people whom you brought out of Egypt” (Exd 32:1). It was evident from their attitude that the people had lost cognizance of the fact that it was God who delivered them. They had put their faith in Moses rather than in God himself when it was He who said, “I have seen the affliction of my people and I have come to save them.” (Exd 3:7). When they came to Aaron to make a god for them, they said, “as for the man Moses who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him” (Exd 32:1).
This very phenomenon is seen in many Christian groups and sects. The members of the church seem to anchor their faith in their pastors rather than in God. They fall in love with the messenger and forget the one behind the message. Many Christian leaders seem to also bask in this vain fame and popularity among the people of God. They make the people so dependent upon them that the people have greater awe and respect for them than for God. It is not scarce these days to hear pastors tell their congregants, “I will heal you” or “when I heal you…”. In these and many other ways they seek to replace God in the hearts of God’s people. Any pastor or priest who takes the place of God in your life, robs you off your heritage in Jesus, which is a personal relationship with God the Father. They are to guide and direct us to God. Please do remember this and know who you are following.
After God expressed his displeasure at what the people had done, he told Moses, “Let me alone that my wrath may blaze against them” (Exd 32:10). There seems to be some kind of humour here. It was as if God was telling Moses, hold my hand so I don’t strike them. Well, Moses will not “let him alone”. He accepted God’s invitation and interceded for the people. That is what a prophet does: he stands in the gap between God and his people (Ezek 22:30). He speaks for God to the people and to the people for God.
Every Christian leader is called to exhibit this vocation of one who stands in the gap between the people and God. This is the kind of leadership we should desire and pray for in the church. Not Leaders who are competing with the lay people in worldly materials, the greed and vain show of opulence or how to deceive, and scheming how to prey on the sensitivities of the people of God. Moses stands in for the people and that is what all men of God should do. They must be found as meek as Jesus and constantly interceding for their people and not competing with them. We must be watchful.
We could attribute the peoples request for a god, to fear. They feared that the worse may have happened to Moses. But more importantly, they feared what would happen to them in the desert of Sinai. The terrifying conditions of the Sinai desert should not be taken for granted. It could be a place of terror and horror. The idea of dying from thirst alone could be frightening enough as to paralyze one’s heart.
It happens and can happen to many of us. Life can be so unkind and terrifying sometimes. The situation where older parents are burying their younger children is not a pleasant thing, or a person does all the right and good things but is tormented by one challenge after another. There are situations that can easily drive you to look for solutions with other forces. I feel your frustration, anguish and pain. But remember, as he did not forget the the children of Israel, he will not forget you. He will give you your sweetest victory yet. Even when things are not going on well, still choose God because no one can help you with what he cannot give you. God is the best option available. Did not the Lord promise that, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”? (Is 43:2). Put your faith in God and not in man.
God lamented, “They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them…”. We must resolve to be committed and obedient to him. In fact, what it means to be a child of God is to obey the commandment of the Lord. If you turn from the way the Lord has prescribed for his children, you cut yourself off.
May we strive through the vicissitudes of life with trust and faith in our God. May we say with Paul, whether we live or we die, we are for the Lord (Rom 14:8).
I leave you with the words of the song, hold on fast by Bernice Offei:
Verse 1:
My dear brethren in the Lord,
You may be going through some trials
And it seems like God is very far away,
You have fasted you have prayed
But it seems the more you pray
then the more your problems multiply for you,
And you don’t know what to do, aaa aaah…
But I have some news for you,
That this God we serve
He never lies He never fails aaaa aaaa
He sees what you can not see,
He knows what you do not know
And He says His plans for you
Are for a future and a hope..
Chorus 1:
So hold on fast
Don’t let the devil lie to you,
Remember God loves you
And He wants the best for you
So hold on fast
Don’t let the devil lie to you,
Remember God loves you
And He wants the best for you.
