Wednesday 28 July 2021

Today is Wednesday the 28 July, in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time.

The Monks of Glenstal Abbey sing Nos autem gloriari: 

‘We should glory in nothing other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection; through him we are saved and set free.  May God have mercy upon us and bless us, may he make his face shine upon us and be merciful to us.’ As I listen, can I feel God’s face shining on me, and open myself to that light, to that loving presence?

Today’s reading is from the Book of Exodus.

Exodus 34:29-35

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.  When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.  But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.  Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face;  but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,  the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

‘The skin of his face shone, because he had been talking with God.’  Have you ever known anyone who just glows like this, who radiates a sense of God?  If you have, think back for a moment about what that person was like - and what it was like to be with them.

The kind of experience recorded here seems like something very special, very unusual - something that doesn't happen often.  But just think for a moment - perhaps your efforts at prayer, even the way you listening to these daily reflections… perhaps that is making a difference to you, and to how others see you.

As you listen again, perhaps you can think about the ways in which God makes a difference — or doesn’t make a difference — to how you go about things.

Moses brings a message to the people from his encounter with God.  Talk to God now about what message your relationship with him might prompt you to give to others.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.