Pastor's Reflection

The first reading describes the encounter of Moses with God. Notice what Moses does just prior to meeting God:

"[Moses] rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone" (Ex. 34:4).

The Hebrew word for "early" comes from the same word that means "to shoulder the burden for the day." The word "early" is related to the same word for "shoulder." In the morning, as we get up, we get ready for the day. We say in English, "to face the day." The word "shoulder" became related to the word for "early" because so often as we go to face the day we are aware almost right away of our tasks for the day. And we put our shoulder to our tasks. We lift up our responsibilities and move into the day.

Next, Moses climbs up Mount Sinai. In the Old Testament, the mountain is the place of encounter with God. Those who are pursued by enemies flee to the mountains for safety. The rain, showing the providence of God, flows down from the mountains. God shows His people things on the mountain: He reveals mysteries. Yet, the mountain alone is not enough. There, on the mountain, they build an altar so that their offering can reach God.

God then descends in the cloud and passes by Moses. Moses bows down to the ground because God is approaching, drawing near, and wants to sanctify the inmost depths of Moses.

As we rise in the morning, we place our shoulder to our tasks. As we come to the Church of St. Eleanor, we approach the mountain. And here on the altar the sacred Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are offered to God the Father. His grace flows down the mountain. He draws near to us as surely as He did to Moses.

As early as we can in the day, every day, let's be like Moses and lift our shoulder early so that we may be ready for the encounter with God.

God bless,
Msgr. Bransfield