Ordinary Time

February 22, 2022

Scripture Reading:

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. Afterwards 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.

Moses came down from Mount Sinai after spending time with God and receiving the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:29) Elijah drained of all strength, burnout we would call it today, He was nourished by God’s angels and then traveled to Mount Horeb and entered a Cave to find renewal. (1 Kings 19) Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12) and the next day he called the 12 disciples. The pattern of prayer between God and God’s followers flows through the entire Bible. We are called to follow that pattern today. When trying to organize a people from living in slavery to becoming a nation, to fighting against the evils of out-of-control power, to selecting the right people for a mission that eventually led to changing the whole world. God is there on the mountaintop or in the church basement. Be attentive to God’s presence as you lay before God whatever is stirring in your soul to gain strength in its accomplishment.

Prayer: Lord, as we travel the path of service, let your love be our strength to carry on in simple and dynamic situations.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.