A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Exodus 3:1-12

This passage describes Moses’ experience with God in the burning bush. God shares with Moses what he has observed with regards to the plight of the Israelites as slaves in Egypt. God informs Moses that he intends to deliver the Israelites from their sufferings but enlists Moses to participate in the liberation movement.

  1. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses while he was caring for Jethro’s flock. What might this mean for the timing of when God chooses to encounter us?

  2. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of a bush - the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. What unusual way has the Lord appeared to you in the midst of your usual routine?

  3. There is a saying: “Curiosity killed the cat.” Moses was curious about what he saw and tried to see why the fire was not consuming the bush. If you were in Moses’ place, then would you have approached the burning bush or ran away from it? Explain why.

  4. God called to Moses out of the bush and Moses responded, “Here I am.” What is our response when we perceive the call of God on our life?

  5. Why did God instruct Moses to remove the sandals from his feet?

  6. What does the phrase “holy ground” mean to you?

  7. Where in our world today is there holy/sacred ground?

  8. What made Moses hide his face? Are there times when we hide from God? If so, then why do we hide?

  9. God had observed the misery of the Israelites in Egypt; he had heard their cry on account of their taskmasters; and he knew their sufferings. Look around you. Who is in misery? Who is crying? Who is suffering?

  10. Note how God responded to what he observed about the plight of the Israelites. He said, “I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey …” In essence, God came down in order to bring the people up. What does it mean for God to “come down”? What correlation might this have to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ?

  11. God sent Moses to Pharaoh to liberate God’s people. In what ways are we participating in the liberation of God’s people today?

Hebrews 11:23-31

This passage highlights people of faith who played a role in God's act of deliverance.

  1. Four things are mentioned as having played a role in God’s act of deliverance. What are these four things and what role did they play?

  2. Moses chose to share ill-treatment with the people of God instead of hiding behind the protection of Pharaoh’s daughter, and Moses considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be the greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt? What must it have been like for Moses to even arrive at such decisions? What would we have chosen to do if we were in that situation?

  3. Have you ever felt like you were drowning and there was no hope of moving forward? How might the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry land help us in the midst of life’s adversities?

  4. The Bible passage tells us that the walls of Jericho fell down. Why did the walls fall down? What was the significance of the seven days (see Joshua 6:2-5)? What message can we receive from this story?

  5. What did Rahab do for a living? Did you know that every year in the U.S., between 70,000 and 80,000 people are arrested for prostitution. Can a prostitute bring about peace? Click here for video: Rahab

John 14:6-14

This passage gives us a road map to heaven - to the throne of God the Father, and assures us that God will provide for our needs.

  1. How does Jesus describe himself in this passage?

  2. What would Google Maps say is the direction from earth to heaven - from us to God the Father?

  3. Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father and then he would believe in Jesus. What needs to happen for us to truly believe in Jesus?

  4. Do you believe that whatever you ask in Jesus’ name that Jesus will do it? Why or why not?

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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