I HAVE SEEN THE SUFFERING OF MY PEOPLE

III SUNDAY OF LENT: Ex 3:1-8,13-15

Last week, we learned with Abraham, the man of faith and the father of all who live by faith. This week, we learn with Moses, the man with a mission. 

Moses seen from different angles

In fact, Moses can be seem from many different angles: 

•   the child who escaped the infanticide; 
• the Egyptian prince, brought up in the Pharaoh's court; 
• the outlaw escaping justice and taking refuge in the desert; 
•   the survivor who found a welcoming home in Midian; 
• the shepherd and the family man who lived like a Midianite and learned the secrets of the desert;
• the man who had a deep experience of God that transformed his life;
• the man with a mission, sent back to the land that saw him growing up, in order to bring the people of Israel out of slavery;
• and then as the liberator of his people, he became the leader, the counsellor, the judge, the law giver, the priest, the servant of the people and the close friend of God.

God prepared Moses well for the task that he would entrust to him. He did not allow him to be killed, and then he spent the first part of his life learning the skills needed to be a ruler of the people. Once that was done, by ways that only God knows and understands, his life changed radically and he was forced to learn in the school of the desert with people who experienced in their daily lives their dependence of God, to whom they entrusted themselves. This second learning was essential for his future task of taking the people through the desert. Once finished, he was ready to be entrusted with a mission.

Moses call

In this Sunday’s first reading, we hear about Moses’ call. Like everywhere else in the Bible, God takes the initiative, attracting Moses attention and calling him by name. God always calls us by name. And the answer promptly came back: “Here I am”. The readiness to answer God’s call is essential in any relationship with God, even if it demands precautions and brings feelings of inadequacy. Moses was told to take off his shoes, and he covered his face in fear.

God demands our cooperation

God saw the suffering of his people and he could not look away. He felt compassion for them, and decided to liberate them from their oppression. However, after the creation, God never works alone. The plan of salvation belongs to him, but we are called to cooperate with him, and he chooses the ones he wants to choose to carry out his plan. Moses put his objections, but in the end he accepted and became a faithful servant of God and of the people.

I've seen the suffering of my people - sung in Bemba by Yangeni Singers, Lubengele Parish, Chililabombwe.