Texts: Deut. 18: 15-20; Ps. 95:1-2.6-9; 1Cor. 7:32-35; Mark 1: 21b-28
The first reading reminds us of the events at Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai. The people experienced that the sight of God was terrifying and awe-inspiring, and so asked Moses to meditate between them and God (Ex. 19-20). Their experience shows that standing before God requires being set apart completely for God, that is, devotion to God wholeheartedly, body, mind and soul. It is said, "and the Lord said to him (Moses) 'Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes and be ready the day after tomorrow. ... So they washed their clothes, and Moses said to them, 'Be ready by the day after tomorrow and don't have sexual intercourse in the meantime." However, the immediate reason for requesting a mediator was because they could not behold the sight of God, the sight of God was terrifying and awe-inspiring. Hence, today's first reading reports that God promised them a prophet like Moses. One quality that makes Moses stands out as a prophet was that God spoke with him face to face. God says, "when there are prophets among you, I reveal myself to them in visions, speaks to them in dreams. It is different when I speak with my servant Moses; I put him in charge of all the people Israel. I speak to him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he has even seen my form!" (Num. 12:6-8). This quality in Moses is a shadow of what is to come. God only showed him His back (Ex.33:18-23).
The promise is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Hence, it is said, "No one has seen God; it is the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known" (John 1:18). In the reading, it is said, "I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ as it is said of His teaching, in today's gospel reading, thus: "And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes." He speaks with authority because He has seen the Father, and He Himself is also God as the Father. This tells us that to speak about God confidently we need personal knowledge of Him. We need to pray like Moses that He may reveal Himself to us. We need to go to Jesus Christ, for He says, "If you know me, you will know my Father too" (John 14:7). Until we have the personal knowledge of God, He is still far from us in a way.
The first reading tells us the implication of not listening to Jesus Christ thus: "And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him." Keeping His words is salvation, let us do so. The responsorial psalm says, "O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts."
The second reading emphasizes a wholehearted devotion to God. Hence, St. Paul proposes virginity and celibacy to engender complete devotion to God. He says, "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or virgin is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband." However, through the letter of St. Peter we have come to know that we serve God wholeheartedly in married, if we do everything for the glory of God. He says, "Do not allow yourselves to be shaped by the passions of your ignorance, but as obedient children, be yourselves holy in all your activity, after the the model the Holy one who calls us" (1Pet.1:14-15). He adds, "Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others. If anyone is a speaker, let it be as the words of God, if anyone serves, let it be as in strength granted by God; so that in everything God may receive the glory through Jesus Christ" (1Pet. 4:10-11). Whatever we do in uprightness and truth, not according to the flesh, glorifies God. Our whole lives can be spent in devotion to God in marriage, if every activity is done in uprightness and truth.
God our Father, give us the grace to seek to You better daily. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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