Ordinary Time

Pause

Take a deep breath right now.

Notice one thing you see,

one thing you hear,

one thing your body is touching.

You are here in this place. God is here with you, too.

Listen

Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you’ve been telling me, ‘Lead these people forward.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. Yet you’ve assured me, ‘I know you by name and think highly of you.’ Now if you do think highly of me, show me your ways so that I may know you and so that you may really approve of me. Remember too that this nation is your people.”

The Lord replied, “I’ll go myself, and I’ll help you.”

Exodus 33:12-14

Think

We find this conversation between God and Moses just after Moses’s people (the Israelites) melted down all their gold jewelry and made a golden calf out of it. Yikes! Moses was off talking with God and receiving instruction, and the people got antsy. Is Moses coming back? Where did God go? We need a god, so let’s make one we can actually see! Needless to say, God got quite angry. God threatened to “consume” the people and start over with just Moses. Double yikes!

But Moses is very bold here in this passage and reminds God of something very important: “Look, God, these aren’t just MY people. They’re YOUR people! You made a covenant to be with US — all of us. And you’ve assured me that you will be with me and guide me so we can lead these people together.”

And God agrees: Yes. I will go with you, and I will help you.

What a promise! God is with you and will help you, too.

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

Pray

God, thank you for going with me and helping me. When I feel stressed, worried, or alone, please remind me that you are with me all the time — at school, at work, in my anxiousness, in my joy, in my mask, as I make big decisions, and as I play. Amen.

Go

As you go, remember that God is with you and with those who do justice.

Dare to be with God, too.