"Remember us, O Lord!"

Today's Mass Readings

If there is one word that stands out in today’s readings, that word is “remember.” In the passage from Exodus, we see the Israelites turning back to the ways of the Egyptians even after God had freed them from slavery. Rather than worshipping God, they continue to worship Egyptian gods in the form of a molten calf. God understandably expresses anger that the people he has freed to worship him continue to worship other gods. God assures Moses that Moses will still have a great nation but suggests destroying all of those unfaithful to Him. This threat evokes the petition of Moses; not concerned merely with his own glory, he begs God to spare the people. First Moses suggests that the Egyptians will take the people’s destruction as a testament against God. Secondly, Moses asks God to “remember” his covenant. Moses knows that he stands in a long line of people who have had a relationship with God – a relationship that is familial. Surely God cannot forget this covenant; He must remember it. And, indeed, God relented of the punishment he threatened to inflict on the people.

The psalm recalls this same incident and has the beautiful response, “Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.”

In the Gospel passage, Jesus mentions Moses in the context of pointing out that the people listening to him have put their trust in Moses, searching the Scriptures for an answer when Jesus, the answer, is standing right before them. He asks them to remember Moses, a hero for sure, but also someone who was not always practically obeyed by the Israelites during his lifetime.

During this time of Lent, we are called upon to remember our own faults and failings, our weaknesses and sins. We are called to recognize the ways we have let God down by not worshipping him well and by not treating our neighbors and ourselves well. During the last weeks of this time of remembrance, let us call to mind our sins and with Moses, beg for forgiveness while also remaining confident that we are already saved through Jesus.