First Reading

A reading from the Book of Exodus (34:4b-6, 8-9)

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.

Having come down in a cloud, the Lord stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, "Lord." Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, "The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (3:52, 53, 54, 55)

(R) Glory and praise forever!

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; and blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. (R)

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. (R)

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R)

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (13:11-13)

Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the Gospel according to John (3:16-18)

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of only Son of God.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Does God exist? Do you believe in God? Have you seen God? What does God look like? These are the questions man has wanted to know since time immemorial. According to the Bible Moses was the first person to whom God revealed himself. God appeared to Moses many times. In today's first reading, from the Book of Exodus, is one such encounter with God on Mount Sinai. You may remember the story that shortly after God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, they traveled through the desert to Mount Sinai where they camped. One day God called Moses to the top of the mountain and gave him the two stone tablets on which God Himself had written the "ten laws" or "ten commandments", Exodus (31:18), for his people. Moses brought those tablets down from Mount Sinai, but on seeing the people worshiping the golden calf they had molded in his absence, he threw the tablets down, and broke them. Moses continued to be displeased with the people's unfaithfulness, and he asked God to show his face. And God agreed to make Himself known in a personal and direct way to Moses. As a preparation for this meeting, Moses was ordered to chisel out two tablets of stone and bring those with him when he met God on Mount Sinai.

Today's text narrates how Moses, carrying the two tablets with no writing on them, went up to the mountain to meet the Lord. Of course later on Moses goes on to write down all that God commands. On the mountain while he is clutching the two tablets he has the ultimate experience of his life - God's glory passes by him in a cloud. In reality, God does not let Himself be seen by anyone, for as sinful human beings, we are incapable of seeing God in all His glory. When Moses asks God to show his face, God replies, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live", Exodus (33:20). The only person who has seen God according to the Bible is Jesus. That's what Jesus said to his disciples when they asked him to show them God the Father. Jesus told them, "No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father", John (6:46). The "One" refers to Jesus, the Son of God. Then Jesus also says, "The one who has seen the Son has seen the Father", John(14:9). So God shows Moses His splendor, but not His full glory. God comes down in a cloud and proclaims that His name is "Yahweh" which means "Lord", and describes who He is to Moses.

The Lord says that he is merciful. When the term "merciful" is used of human beings, it denotes the mercy or sympathy we have for those who suffer or are helpless. Whereas when it is used of God, it denotes the strong affection God has for his own people. God's mercy is shown so many times in the Bible. The psalmist reminds us how important God's mercy is to us in the Psalms. For instance, he says, "As tenderly as a father treats his children, so Yahweh treats those who fear him", Psalms (103:13).
The Lord says that he is gracious. His graciousness refers to His acts - His constant care, love and forgiveness.
The Lord says that he is slow to anger. In other words, God suffers patiently for our unfaithfulness and disobedience. He delays his wrath to give us time for repentance. He gives the wicked, a chance to come to him. Describing the patience and long suffering of God, "The Lord is not being slow in carrying out his promises, as some people think he is; rather he is being patient with you, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to repentance", 2nd Peter (3:19).
The Lord says that He is rich in kindness. God's kindness means God's steadfast love. Affirming God's kindness the Psalmist says, "Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him", Psalms (34:8).
The Lord says that He is abounding in faithfulness. Affirming God's faithfulness to his people, the Psalmist says, "The word of Yahweh is straightforward, all he does springs from his constancy. He loves uprightness and justice; the faithful love of Yahweh fills the earth", Psalms (33:3-4).

In a nutshell, Moses wants to see the face of God. God tells him to bring two empty stone tablets. He goes to the mountain at the appointed time. God appears to him in a cloud, and declares His name, "Lord", and describes Himself as merciful, gracious, being slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness. As God reveals himself to Moses, he quickly bows his head in worship and says a prayer to the Lord for the people of Israel. Yes, Moses has no desire for any personal benefit. He immediately applies his experience of God for the benefit of the people he represents. However, he acknowledges the impatience and infidelity of the people of Israel. He pleads the Lord to pardon them for their wickedness and sins, and receive them as his own again.

What is the message for us? Friends, like Moses, first and foremost, we must have a deep longing and thirst for God, a desire to see and know Him, and above all to worship Him. Though we may not be able to see God physically in this life, all of us can at least catch glimpses of Him almost anywhere - in a prayer room, a small place, the bedroom, the church, while reading the scriptures, talking to a friend or walking along the road. One of the places and times we can catch a glimpse of God's greatness is in a community of believers, when we gather together to worship and share the word of God and celebrate the holy sacrifice of Jesus Christ through whom God is truly manifested.

Yes, friends, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus and his life. God has revealed Himself to us in a way that we can understand. So, if you have the desire to see God's glory then you go into His presence with blank tablets. That is to say, go to His presence expecting always something new from Him. Do not go into His presence with prejudice toward either the Scriptures, the priest's preaching, the place or the congregation. When you are there, pray to God to reveal Himself to you in a personal and direct way. You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud, in a way in which you are most comfortable and least distracted. Then acknowledge the great character of the Lord - His mercy, graciousness, patience, kindness and faithfulness. Finally when he manifests himself to you, pray not only for your own personal benefits and needs but also for all those who are in need of His grace. Particularly, pray for the stiff-necked people in your family, work places and community, so that one day they may also recognize his goodness and greatness, and may believe in Him and see his glory.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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