There are two themes I will reflect upon and pray over from today’s readings. I will begin my prayer, as I always do, by asking the Holy Spirit to guide me.
First, Jesus tells me in the Gospel that to accept him is to accept the Father. This means in so far as I live out his message I shall know the Father, who sent him to give life to me and to all. That life is the Father’s love for me and for all. So, to welcome Jesus and all he teaches me through his gospel is to live in his love, which is the very life of the Father. And it is the Holy Spirit, dwelling within me who shows me how to welcome Jesus.
Second. There is Moses in the first reading. He gives me the example of how to make intercession for others. His dialogue with God boarders on the irreverent: it’s like: “My people? What are you talking about: it’s your people! You love them. It is up to you to do something for them! Hey, the ball is in your court, not mine!”
In the Gospel Jesus gives me Moses as the exemplar of what an intercessor should be. There are so many people I should make intercession for so that they accept the Father’s love. May the Holy Spirit, who inspired Moses how to pray for others, teach me how to do the same.