Tuesday, July 30, 2013
537. How did Moses pray? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 537 repetition) The prayer of Moses was typical of contemplative prayer. God, who called
to Moses from the burning bush, lingered in conversation with him often and at
length, “face to face, like a man with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). In this
intimacy with God, Moses attained the strength to intercede tenaciously for his
people: his prayer thus prefigured the intercession of the one mediator, Christ
Jesus.
“In brief”
(CCC 2593) The prayer of
Moses responds to the living God's initiative for the salvation of his people.
It foreshadows the prayer of intercession of the unique mediator, Christ Jesus.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2576) "Thus the
Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend"
(Ex 33:11). Moses' prayer is characteristic of contemplative prayer by which
God's servant remains faithful to his mission. Moses converses with God often
and at length, climbing the mountain to hear and entreat him and coming down to
the people to repeat the words of his God for their guidance. Moses "is
entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly, not in
riddles," for "Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the
face of the earth" (Num 12:3,7-8).
Reflection
(CCC 2577) From this
intimacy with the faithful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
(Cf. Ex 34:6), Moses drew strength and determination for his intercession. He
does not pray for himself but for the people whom God made his own. Moses
already intercedes for them during the battle with the Amalekites and prays to
obtain healing for Miriam (Cf. Ex 17:8-12; Num 12:13-14). But it is chiefly
after their apostasy that Moses "stands in the breach" before God in
order to save the people (Ps 106:23; cf. Ex 32:1-34:9). The arguments of his
prayer - for intercession is also a mysterious battle - will inspire the
boldness of the great intercessors among the Jewish people and in the Church:
God is love; he is therefore righteous and faithful; he cannot contradict
himself; he must remember his marvellous deeds, since his glory is at stake,
and he cannot forsake this people that bears his name. [END]
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