Reconciliation in Exodus

Scripture: Lectionary 401. Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34. Psalm
106:19-20,21-22,23. Matthew 13:31-35:

Reconciliation between God and Moses and the people of Israel comes at a
very high price in our first reading. The narrative gives an account of
the golden calf idolatrous ritual of celebration that is going on in the
camp below while Moses is conversing with God on Mount Sinai. He has just
received the two tablets written on both sides by God according to our
text. Unfortunately, his brother Aaron seems to be the instigator of what
is happening down below in the camp. People are carousing in a wild party
and dancing in front and around the golden calf made from their own
jewelry.It has been fused together in the water container they had in the
camp. Moses unlike Joshua discerns it to be the revel of celebration and
not sounds of victory over Israel's enemies. Trouble is brewing for those
involved in this excitement in front of a moten image of a calf.

Moses throws down the tablets and breaks them thereby indicating that the
covenant or pact with God has been broken and people are allying themselves
with a worthless image of what they suppose to be a godlike image. The
rabbinic midrash sees what was supposed to be the peoples' freedom (herut)
a negation of what had been engraved or cut into the tablets by God himself
(harat). "In a verbal play, a midrash interprets the text as if it read
"there was freedom" upon the tablets, explaining that no one is free except
one who studies the Torah." (Pirkei Avot 6.2). See also the Jewish Study
Bible, page 185).

Moses requests his own death and the punishment of the people in his anger.
God actually refuses both and once again grants reconciliation to the
people of Israel. This pattern of faithfulness to the covenant, then
breaking it, atoning and once again having it restored by God takes place.
We see a similarity in our own Sacrament of Reconciliation where we bring
our customary and similar sins each time we make use of the sacrament. The
stories in the Bible are actually our own stories whether as an individual
or as a member of a community, church, or nation. The pattern of the
history of salvation is always similar in our human behavior and our lack
of response to God's plan or ways. Reconciliation is needed and we humbly
ask pardon of God each time we confess the same sins.

We see in this narrative the courage and fidelity of Moses who remains
always in the friendship of God. We have much to learn from him.
Forgiveness comes at a high price--the humility and docility that is so
foreign to our own culture and our own beharvior. Amen.