Homily: Nineteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time
Nineteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Dt 34:1-12) “Reward Deferred”
I often feel sorry for Moses. He seems to be treated unfairly. He is called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the promised land. He does not feel confident as a leader. But God does not allow him to opt out.
He takes his life in his hand when he goes to Egypt. He is a fugitive from justice. But he goes back to Egypt anyway. He confronts Pharoah and through a series of plagues he convinces Pharoah to let the Israelites leave the country.
He faces down Pharoah’s army when they pursue the fleeing Israelites. He is armed only with the power of God. Moses parts the Red Sea and the army of the Egyptians is drowned.
The march to the promised land turns into a forty-year sojourn in the desert. The Jewish people constantly complain against Moses. He constantly must placate them and act as a mediator between God and the people. He must deal with the anger of the people, and he must deal with the unhappiness of God. Any middle manager will sympathize with Moses.
Not only does Moses have to meet the physical needs of the people. Also, he must lead them religiously. He introduces a moral code for the people to live by and he institutes the liturgical worship of the Jewish people. He helps the People of Israel realize what it means to be God’s chosen ones.
After he does all this, he is told that he will not lead the people into the promised land. How broken-hearted he must have been! But he does not complain. His body is not even buried in the place God has picked out as a homeland for the people.
What does all this teach us? We are taught a lesson in what it means to have faith. Faith is trusting in God and trying to live as God calls us to live even when we do not experience a final victory in this world. When we can invest in God’s plan when the result is hidden from our eyes then we are making an act of faith?
Reflection Questions:
1. Have I ever started something that I knew I would never finish? Have I handed off some project to a new generation?
2. Do I feel bad for Moses? Was God fair to him?
Dear Parishioners,
On Tuesday we moved a piece of Sacred Heart’s artistic heritage into the church. In 1907 Fr. Culemans’ brother-in-law carved a wooden crucifix for the worship space at Sacred Heart. His name was Camille Wegge. Camille Wegge lived in Moline and had a shop where he produced various artistic works. He provided pieces for the Supreme Court building in Washington and for various U.S. embassies around the world.
The cross was moved from the St. Francis Chapel where it was rarely seen to the walkway between the church and our new gathering center. The history of this cross is intimately tied to our parish. Now many people will be inspired by this religious work. I hope everyone enjoys this beautiful crucifix.
May our Lady pray for us today,
Fr. Mark