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Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours
May I Present God!
July 17, 2013
LEARNING
INTRODUCTIONS +++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Children once practiced proper introductions:
general rule was younger to older, male to female
Ø
“Mrs.
Smith, may I present Tim?”
Ø
“Tim, this
is Mrs. Smith”
Ø
The question “May
I present God?” points toward practical implication for us personally
INTRODUCTIONS IN
MATTHEW & EXODUS +++++++++
Ø
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says, “If you want an introduction to God, here I
am”
Ø
Exodus 3-4 is described as Moses’ call, but look
more closely and you’ll see it’s actually an introduction to God
Ø
Moses grew up in pantheistic Egypt, meaning
there were a ton of gods and each god was invoked for a very specific purpose
and each god was very local
Ø
Now finding himself in Midian, present day Sudan
on the Arabian Peninsula, Moses wants to know this very local God
INTRODUCTION à
2 FOCI +++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
This God has 2 elements as part of his
introduction:
o 1st
= “I will be with you,” which
we see in the reading, as Moses goes to Pharaoh & leads the Israelites out
of Egypt
o 2nd
= “I am
who am,” God’s identity as “The Present One, Here, Now!” Pervades
all ss
APPLICATION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
God’s identity then has profound, personal
implications
Ø
It calls us to be attentive and understand
deeply our liturgical response to the words: “The Lord be with you”
Ø
Namely, “And
with your spirit”
Ø
For this conveys divine truth and power
Ø
The God who summons Moses and is revealed in
Jesus, is not only “with us” but “in us” as well
Ø
Consequently, no believer is suffering or dying alone
Ø
And what we have to offer one in his/her tough
situation is a “God with” and a “God within”
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
The God met in today’s scripture as “present with and within” inquires
whether our lives are introductions
Ø
That is, in effect, does my life say to you, “May I present God”?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
