472 MOSES THE MEDIATOR

YOUCAT Lesson 472

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

472  How did Moses pray?

From Moses we learn that “praying” means “speaking with God”.  At the burning bush God entered into a real conversation with Moses and gave him an assignment.  Moses raised objections and asked questions.  Finally God revealed to him his holy name.  Just as Moses then came to trust God and enlisted wholeheartedly in his service, so we too should pray and thus go to God’s school.  [2574-2577]

Moses and the Burning Bush. …..472

The bible mentions Moses’ name 767 times—so central  is he as the liberator and lawgiver of the people of Israel.  At the same time Moses was also a great intercessor for his people.  In prayer he received his commission; from prayer he drew his strength.  Moses had an intimate, personal relationship with God: “The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11a).  Before Moses acted or instructed the people, he withdrew to the mountain to pray.  Thus he is the original example of contemplative prayer.

Contemplata aliis trader. (To contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation.)  Motto of the Dominican Order

Contemplation (from Latin contemplare = becoming absorbed in God’s presence in prayer.)  Contemplation (the interior spiritual life) and action (the active life) are two sides of devotion to God.  In Christianity the two belong inseparably together.

[2574-2577]

Moses and the prayer of the mediator

2574 Once the promise begins to be fulfilled (Passover, the Exodus, the gift of the Law, and the ratification of the covenant), the prayer of Moses becomes the most striking example of intercessory prayer, which will be fulfilled in "the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."(1 Timothy 2:5.)¹⁹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2575 Here again the initiative is God's. From the midst of the burning bush he calls Moses.( Exodus 3:1-10.)²⁰ This event will remain one of the primordial images of prayer in the spiritual tradition of Jews and Christians alike. When "the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" calls Moses to be his servant, it is because he is the living God who wants men to live. God reveals himself in order to save them, though he does not do this alone or despite them: he calls Moses to be his messenger, an associate in his compassion, his work of salvation. There is something of a divine plea in this mission, and only after long debate does Moses attune his own will to that of the Savior God. But in the dialogue in which God confides in him, Moses also learns how to pray: he balks, makes excuses, above all questions: and it is in response to his question that the Lord confides his ineffable name, which will be revealed through his mighty deeds. --CCC

2576 "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend."( Exodus 33:11.)²¹ 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."(Numbers 12:3,7-8.)²² –CCC

2577 From this intimacy with the faithful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,(Compare Exodus 34:6.)²³ 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.(Compare Exodus 17:8-12; Numbers 12:13-14.)²⁴ But it is chiefly after their apostasy that Moses "stands in the breach" before God in order to save the people.(Psalm 106:23; compare Exodus 32:1-34:9.)²⁵ 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 marvelous deeds, since his glory is at stake, and he cannot forsake this people that bears his name.  --CCC