Pope Francis continued his catechesis on prayer, highlighting Moses. He mentioned that in “worldly eyes” Moses was a failure, yet “God entrusts him with the responsibility of conveying the divine law to the people of Israel, and Moses becomes their great intercessor.”
Moses intercedes for the people, prefiguring Jesus, the great intercessor.
In this way, the pope says he is an example for all Christians, who are also “called to share in this type of prayer, interceding for those who need God’s help, and for the redemption of the whole world.”
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS:
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on prayer, we now consider the prayer of Moses. The book of Exodus portrays Moses – from a human point of view – as a failure. Yet at a certain point in his life, he encounters God in the wilderness. From a burning bush, the Lord calls Moses to return to Egypt in order to lead his people to freedom, but Moses, faced with the majesty of Almighty God and his demands, resists the call, protesting his unsuitability for such a great task.
Nevertheless, God entrusts him with the responsibility of conveying the divine law to the people of Israel, and Moses becomes their great intercessor, especially when they are tempted or have sinned. With hands outstretched to God, Moses makes of himself a kind of bridge between earth and heaven, pleading for the people when they are most in need. In this way he prefigures Jesus, our great intercessor and high priest.
We Christians are also called to share in this type of prayer, interceding for those who need God’s help, and for the redemption of the whole world.
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the media. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord. May God bless you!
