The 1st reading of today’s celebration presents us a scene that is fascinating: a bush that is on fire, yet it is not burning up (Exodus 3:1-8,10,13-15).
Moses, seeing this, is curious about it and he starts moving towards this unusual bush.
This is when he hears God calling him by name and telling him:
“I am the God of your father…
“I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.
I have heard them crying out…
I am concerned about their suffering.
So I have come down to rescue them…”
This is the important part of the text: God making himself known as he is:
a God who sees, who hears, who is concerned, and who rescues his people.
It is interesting to note that Moses’ attention was first drawn by an unusual sight.
We are told:
“Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight’…”
At times, God needs to draw our attention by some situations, or happenings, that are meant to convey a message to us.
A message and… a mission!
This is what happened to Moses: God sends him to the Egyptian king to demand the freedom of his people.
It is easy to understand the hesitation, even the reluctance, of Moses to take on such a dangerous task.
But God has a simple reply that prevents any argument:
“I will be with you”.
The burning bush was a distraction meant to awaken Moses’ attention to a vocation!
Looking at our own lives, we may recognize some similar situations…
We can discern the burning bushes that we have seen along the way of our life…
And the tasks confided to us by God…
They might not have been strategic responsibilities, or endeavours with serious consequences.
They may have been usual tasks and ordinary occupations.
But God expected us to fulfil what was confided to us.
It is good to acknowledge that he has, indeed, always been with us… overruling our hesitation to do what he was asking us to do…
And he will always be… whatever is demanded of us…
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/3e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-c-2025/
Source: Images: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints