Grace to you!
 
May I share with you an excerpt from my newest book Our Journey to God on Moses and the event of the burning bush? Hope you will find it interesting as you meditate on  Exodus 3.
 
“Let us return to the form of evidence, theophany, which I said is the crux of the faith journey. Let’s try to sketch out this idea by reference to the story of Moses. His theophany was a divine encounter in the form of the burning bush that was not consumed (Exod. 3). This imagery draws attention to the divine imprint in every soul, the same inherent desire burning like fire and pushing us to search for the good, the beautiful, and the true. Like the bush that was not consumed, the soul is not consumed by this divine fire; instead, it inspires us to ask for more, to draw closer to perfection, to want to embrace God and to be wrapped in His being. We want to possess God, hold onto him and not let him depart from us. In each soul or heart, there is this fire, this push, this longing.
 
In the story of Moses, we see this chosen one thrilled by the sight. He drew nearer in either admiration, curiosity, or sheer wonder. Then from the thickest of the flames a unique voice spoke the name Yahweh—I AM.  Observe the sequence of this revelation. First, there was a “fugitive,” Moses, running away from the Pharaoh because of his love for his people, Israel. He is like any person on a wild search for the meaning of life; he was looking for answers to his life’s journey. Humanity’s ultimate search is search for meaning, for no search is without a goal. Ultimate meaning is life’s natural elixir. Finding it is the fulfillment of all desire. Not finding it is life’s dreadful dirge.
 
Second, Moses’ natural curiosity before the bush led him to contemplate the mystery that took place before him. He begins a movement, drawing closer and closer to the light. He was, like many of us, a soul in search of the true light, the light of the world. But he was not worthy, as no one is worthy to step upon the terrace of the awe-inspiring presence of God, unless he removed his shoes. We should note the relevance of shoes in the ancient Near East: Without shoes, a traveler would hardly make it through the sunny, stony desert. You might call shoes an artificial support to a traveler’s journey. But a time had come for Moses when physical shoes were not needed—when their use was subsumed by the power of God’s grace. A time comes in our spiritual life when manmade support for our spiritual search gives way to the profundity of the divine embrace. We meet God as He has made us, without shoes, as God has purposed us for a blessed destiny. Isn’t this the meaning of life we are searching for? Moses’s experience captures what happens at the beatific vision, when we shall see God face to face, and behold His glory.”
(Culled from Fr. Maurice N. Emelu, Our Journey to God: Exploring the Power of Faith from Abraham to You, (Irondale, AL: EWTN Publishing, 2017), pp. 25-27)
 
God love you. God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu
 
[Wednesday, 15th Week ordinary Time A: Exod 3:1-6, 9-12; Mt 11:25-17]

Grace to you! 
 
Faith journey is a spiritual movement towards a goal. Using his personal story, Saint Paul described it this way: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). Keeping an eye on that goal is crucial.
 
The saints well schooled in the spiritual life are constantly discerning God's will every step of the way. Settling in a place or situation of comfort and closing our spiritual eyes to divine direction is a stumbling block to reaching the goal of perfection. Perhaps that is why, for instance, the role of spiritual directors, those who help us to discern, is important? Maybe, also, why examination of conscience and particular examination (examen) are helpful spiritual practices for those who want to grow in discernment.  
 
Abraham, our father in faith, leaves us a good example of the nature of the spiritual life, the life of faith. Genesis 12:1-9 depicts him as a sojourner, inspired all the way to where God wants him to go. He wasn't certain where, he simply followed the lead of God knowing that with God, his obedience of faith would be justified.
 
I wrote a great deal of this unique faith of Abraham and some of the incredible discoveries I made by reading, rereading and reflecting on his story in the book of Genesis in chapter two of my new book, Our Journey to God: Exploring the Power of Faith from Abraham to You. You will find it an interesting read. 
 
On this, our spiritual sojourn, we will find many things on the way—the good, the bad and the ugly. A 17th century classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, describes in a colorful fictional prose, what dangers the pilgrim could face and the temptations on the way.
 
Distractions are part of the experiences of the sojourner. Sometimes they come from events and circumstances, other times they come from people—from those we least expect it and from those we do expect it. Yet, it's in keeping an eye on the finish line that victory is assured. 
 
One of the ways not to be mired in people-based distractions is knowing how not to hastily jump to conclusions. This sucks us into a state where we don’t want to be and muddies our spiritual perspicacity.
 
The Lord was point blank in Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not and you will not be judged..." What first jumps at me reading these words of Our Lord was a private revelation in the Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Sienna.
 
The Saint was burdened by how to interpret these words of our Lord on not judging. The Lord explained to her that only He, the Lord, knows all the circumstances of any person's action. Hence, He tells us not to judge persons. 
 
Judging actions is different from judging persons. Even so, censorious spirit isn’t a holy attitude. When we engage in person-based judgment, we are easily distracted and sucked into a state of mind where the Spirit wouldn’t want us to be. Hence, the sojourner should keep an eye on the finish line and avoid being distracted by those persons or circumstances that are capable of making us lose sight of the goal. 
 
Are you convinced about God's plan in your life? Certain of what the Lord demands of you? Do it and don't look back. Avoid distractions. Blessings lie in being a sojourn to the upward call in Christ Jesus. 
 
God love you. God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Monday Weekday 12 A: Gn 12:1-9; Mt 7:1-5]