Daily Reflections- March 22, 2012

We Are God ’s Own

 

When I was young, whenever my father was angry with me, he would talk to my mother and refer to me as “that son of yours!” When he began to speak of me that way, that’s an indication that I had disappointed him. “That son of yours” is a subtle declaration that, at least at that moment, I had “lost” our bond of intimacy, until I do my part of our father-son covenant.

In today’s First Reading, we see an image of an irate God. Yahweh is castigating the Israelites. Notice the words spoken by Yahweh. Speaking to Moses, God said, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.” Now it’s “your people” and no longer “My people” as Yahweh would commonly address Israel. Now it’s “whom you brought out of the land of Egypt” and no longer “whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.”

“Your people” was an indication that God was “breaking ties” with Israel. But Israel had Moses as an intercessor. Because of Moses’  righteousness, Yahweh relented and, once again, “your people” became “My people.” The Israelites were lucky to have Moses as intercessor. But we are more blessed. We not only have Moses as an intercessor but no less than the Son of God as our mediator. With Jesus, we are not only “God’s people.” In Jesus we became God’s children because Jesus revealed God as “Our Father” (Luke 11).

Let us once more renew our gratefulness to God for the gift of His Son. We can approach God not out of own righteousness but of His Son’s. Our worship is acceptable not because of ourselves but because of His Son. We solemnly proclaim this whenever we gather as a community. But most of all, we solemnly proclaim this in the great Doxology of the Eucharist. In this Mass, let us affirm with deep faith Jesus’ presence in us as the priest says, “Through Him, with Him and in Him....” And to this, add your solemn and sincere “Amen!” Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you think Jesus refers to you whenever you disappoint Him through sin and indifference?

 

Lord Jesus, I am forever grateful for Your presence in my life. Help me to treasure it and savor it every day of my life.