Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time – Lectionary: 391

God Reveals Himself to the Humble

Have you ever felt too small, too unqualified, or too broken to do something great for God? Today’s readings remind us that it is precisely the humble, the hesitant, and the childlike to whom God reveals His glory—and through whom He works wonders. Whether it’s Moses in the wilderness, the psalmist crying out in praise, or Jesus blessing the simplicity of the childlike heart, each passage today draws us into the mystery of divine revelation: God does not disclose Himself to the proud, but to those who are willing to turn aside and listen.

In Exodus 3, we encounter the awe-inspiring moment of God’s self-revelation to Moses in the burning bush. This theophany—the appearance of God in visible form—marks a turning point not just in Moses’ life, but in salvation history. Moses, once a fugitive and now a simple shepherd, becomes the chosen instrument of God’s deliverance. The Lord sees the suffering of His people and acts, not through a mighty general, but through a man who dares to say, “Here I am” even while asking, “Who am I?” This divine initiative flows into Psalm 103, which praises God for His justice, mercy, and intimate care for the oppressed, highlighting how He made His ways known to Moses and revealed His deeds to Israel.

Jesus, in The Gospel of Matthew, picks up this thread of divine intimacy by praising the Father for revealing heavenly truths not to the wise and learned, but to the childlike—those whose hearts are uncluttered by pride and self-reliance. “Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will”, He proclaims, drawing us into the eternal relationship between Father and Son. These readings converge into a powerful truth: God reveals Himself to those who are willing to listen, to trust, and to follow—especially when they feel unworthy or uncertain. Are you ready to remove your sandals and recognize the holy ground beneath your feet today?

First Reading – Exodus 3:1–6, 9–12

The Fire That Calls the Humble

The Book of Exodus is one of the central narratives of salvation history, chronicling Israel’s journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom as God’s chosen people. In today’s reading, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment: the calling of Moses. This moment is not just about a personal vocation—it’s the beginning of divine intervention for an entire nation. Moses is no longer the prince of Egypt, but a shepherd tending flocks in Midian. It’s in this hidden, humble season of his life that God reveals Himself in power. This setting is deeply significant: the desert wilderness represents a place of purification, silence, and encounter. The mountain of God, Horeb—later known as Sinai—is holy not because of geography, but because it becomes the meeting place between man and the divine. Today’s reading powerfully aligns with our theme: God chooses the humble, reveals Himself on holy ground, and sends the unqualified to do the impossible—with His presence as their strength.

Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

¹ Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the wilderness, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb. ² There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed. ³ So Moses decided, “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” ⁴ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ God said: Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ⁶ I am the God of your father, he continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

⁹ Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. ¹⁰ Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.
¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ¹² God answered: I will be with you; and this will be your sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God at this mountain.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the wilderness, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb.”
Moses is living in exile, having fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. Once destined for greatness in Pharaoh’s court, he is now a shepherd—a lowly and humble occupation, particularly in Egyptian culture. The fact that Moses goes “beyond the wilderness” foreshadows that he is about to cross into a deeper spiritual reality. Horeb, known as the mountain of God, becomes the site where divine history begins anew.

Verse 2 – “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed.”
Fire is a symbol of God’s presence and holiness, often associated with purification and divine power throughout Scripture. That the bush is not consumed is a physical sign of the mystery of God’s presence: wholly powerful, yet gentle enough to dwell among us without destroying us. Church Fathers have seen in the burning bush a type of the Virgin Mary—who bore the divine fire of Christ without being consumed.

Verse 3 – “So Moses decided, ‘I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?’”
This small moment is spiritually immense: Moses chooses to turn aside. He is not forced into encounter; he is drawn by wonder and chooses to seek understanding. This is a lesson in discernment—God often draws us through signs that awaken our curiosity and awe. The Lord speaks when we turn aside from our routine to see with spiritual eyes.

Verse 4 – “When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, ‘Here I am.’”
God waits for our attention. It is only after Moses turns that God speaks. This mirrors how God often acts in our lives—He waits for the disposition of a listening heart. God’s double call, “Moses! Moses!”, expresses both urgency and affection. Moses’ response, “Here I am,” echoes the response of other biblical figures (like Abraham and Samuel) who are open to the divine will.

Verse 5 – “God said: Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
God establishes distance to protect Moses from the overwhelming holiness of His presence. Removing sandals is a sign of reverence, humility, and submission—it acknowledges that we are in the presence of something infinitely greater than ourselves. The ground is made holy because of God’s presence, not because of any intrinsic quality. This teaches us to recognize the sacredness of God’s interruptions in our daily life.

Verse 6 – “I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”
This is the moment of divine identity. God is not a distant power but the God of relationship—the same God who walked with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His continuity affirms His faithfulness to the covenant. Moses’ fear is a proper response to the sacred; it reflects an authentic sense of awe, a virtue often lost in our modern age.

Verse 9 – “Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them.”
God hears the cries of the oppressed and takes notice. This is one of the defining traits of the God of Israel—He is not indifferent to human suffering. This verse shows His justice and compassion. God sees, God hears, and God acts. We are reminded that prayer, even when it feels unheard, always reaches the heart of God.

Verse 10 – “Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
Here, the divine call shifts from revelation to mission. God calls Moses not just to experience Him, but to be sent. He gives Moses a task that, humanly speaking, is impossible: confront Pharaoh and liberate an enslaved nation. But the authority lies not in Moses, but in the One who sends him.

Verse 11 – “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’”
Moses expresses deep humility and doubt. His past failure and exile have shaped him into someone who no longer sees himself as capable. And yet, this question—“Who am I?”—is the perfect disposition for divine service. God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

Verse 12 – “God answered: I will be with you; and this will be your sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God at this mountain.”
God’s answer is not a list of credentials, but His presence: “I will be with you.” This is the heart of every mission: God’s abiding companionship. The sign He gives is future-oriented—a promise that faithfulness will be rewarded. Moses’ mission will lead not just to freedom from slavery, but to worship on holy ground.

Teachings from the Church

This passage is rich with echoes throughout Church teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the personal nature of God’s call in paragraph 2575: “Here again we are at the wellspring of the prayer of God’s servants. It is first the Lord who calls Moses and draws him into a dialogue of trust. Moses responds to the call of God who speaks to him from the burning bush. This event will remain one of the primordial images of prayer in the spiritual tradition of Jews and Christians alike.” Prayer, for Moses and for us, begins not with our initiative, but with God’s invitation—and our humble response.

The Church Fathers saw Moses as a prototype of Christian discipleship. Saint Gregory of Nyssa taught that Moses’ ascent to the mountain was a symbol of the soul’s gradual approach to God through purification and illumination. Origen wrote that the burning bush prefigured both Mary and the Incarnation, since the fire of divinity dwelled within the physical without destroying it: “As the bush burned and was not consumed, so the Virgin bore the Word and remained undefiled.”

Historically, Moses’ encounter with God becomes the foundation for the entire Exodus story, which prefigures Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Just as Moses leads Israel from slavery to freedom, Christ leads us from sin to salvation. And just as Moses returns to the mountain with the people to worship, the Church gathers at the altar—the new holy ground—to encounter the living God in the Eucharist.

Reflection

How often do we ignore the signs that God places in our path? The burning bush might not be a literal flame in our lives, but we all encounter moments that ask us to turn aside: a conversation that stirs our spirit, an act of injustice that demands our voice, a call to serve that seems beyond our ability. Like Moses, we may ask, “Who am I?” But God’s answer remains the same: “I will be with you.” The invitation is to trust, to remove our sandals—to humble ourselves—and to recognize that holy ground is anywhere God calls us to serve.

This passage encourages us to be spiritually attentive. Are we so busy that we miss the extraordinary disguised as ordinary? What is your “burning bush” moment? Where is God asking you to step aside, to listen, and to go forth in faith? Often the call of God comes when we feel least prepared. But that’s exactly when we are most ready—because humility makes room for grace.

So today, make space for silence. Watch for divine signs. And when you hear your name called in your heart, be ready to respond like Moses: “Here I am.”

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103:1–4, 6–7

Praise from the Pit

Psalm 103 is a rich and jubilant hymn attributed to King David, expressing heartfelt praise for the Lord’s boundless mercy, healing, and justice. As a hymn of thanksgiving, it begins with personal praise and expands outward to recount God’s covenantal faithfulness. In the context of today’s readings, this psalm acts as the soul’s response to God’s self-revelation. Just as Moses encounters the living God at Horeb and is called into divine service, the psalmist reminds us of who this God is—a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, who forgives, heals, and redeems. Psalm 103 serves as both a mirror and a response to the first reading: God reveals Himself not as a distant deity but as one who intimately engages with His people in their weakness, offering mercy and justice to those in need. This psalm, often used in liturgical settings, invites us to make our own hearts echo with gratitude and awe at the mystery of a God who acts on behalf of the lowly.

Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Praise of Divine Goodness
¹ Of David.

Bless the Lord, my soul;
    all my being, bless his holy name!
² Bless the Lord, my soul;
    and do not forget all his gifts,
³ Who pardons all your sins,
    and heals all your ills,
⁴ Who redeems your life from the pit,
    and crowns you with mercy and compassion,

⁶ The Lord does righteous deeds,
    brings justice to all the oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    to the Israelites his deeds.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!”
The psalm begins with an interior call to worship. The soul is not merely part of us—it is the deepest seat of our identity and consciousness. The call for “all my being” to bless the Lord emphasizes total, undivided praise. This is not perfunctory or routine worship—it is a call to engage heart, mind, body, and spirit. The name of God is “holy,” set apart and powerful, yet revealed intimately to those who love Him.

Verse 2 – “Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts,”
This verse exhorts the soul not only to praise but to remember. The spiritual life is nourished by gratitude and memory. Forgetting God’s gifts leads to disobedience and despair, while remembering stirs humility and worship. The Hebrew word for “gifts” implies active benefits—God’s grace is not theoretical but experienced in the flesh-and-blood reality of life.

Verse 3 – “Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills,”
Here, the psalmist identifies two of God’s most personal actions: pardon and healing. Sin and sickness are linked throughout Scripture—not in a punitive way, but as symbols of our fallen nature. God’s mercy covers both moral and physical affliction. This anticipates the fuller healing found in Christ, who says in Mark 2:9, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?”

Verse 4 – “Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion,”
The “pit” is a common biblical image for death, despair, or grave danger. Redemption here means rescue from total ruin. But God doesn’t stop at saving—He crowns the redeemed. His mercy and compassion are not leftovers—they are royal garments placed upon those who had nothing. This verse also foreshadows the Resurrection, where Christ lifts humanity from death and crowns the faithful with eternal life.

Verse 6 – “The Lord does righteous deeds, brings justice to all the oppressed.”
This verse transitions from personal gratitude to a communal justice. God is not only a healer and redeemer; He is a just ruler who defends the oppressed. This justice is not abstract or delayed—it is active. In the context of Exodus, this verse directly mirrors God’s decision to intervene on behalf of Israel under Egyptian slavery. God’s justice is a thread running through all salvation history.

Verse 7 – “He made known his ways to Moses, to the Israelites his deeds.”
This verse connects the psalm explicitly to the first reading. God’s ways were made known to Moses—the law, the covenant, the plan of salvation. His deeds were made visible to the entire people through the miracles of deliverance. This line is a confession of revelation: God is not hidden to those who seek Him. He reveals Himself in history, in relationship, and in power.

Teachings from the Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that praise is the form of prayer that most directly recognizes God’s divine goodness. Paragraph 2639 states: “Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory quite beyond what he does, but simply because HE IS.” Psalm 103 embodies this theology of praise, acknowledging God’s being and His merciful action toward His people. This psalm is not just a thanksgiving for past events but an expression of confidence in God’s continuing faithfulness.

Saint Augustine reflected on this psalm in his Expositions on the Psalms, emphasizing that when the soul praises God in this way, it is being healed: “Bless the Lord, O my soul… that is, let your whole self bless the Lord, because you have received total healing—your iniquities forgiven, your diseases healed, your soul restored.” For Augustine, praise is the natural outflow of one who recognizes God’s mercy at work in their life, and the psalm becomes a daily prayer of healing and restoration.

Historically, Psalm 103 has been used in the Church’s liturgical tradition as a psalm of healing and mercy, especially during penitential seasons like Lent. It is often sung or prayed during the Liturgy of the Hours and in pastoral care of the sick and dying. Its words are imprinted in the collective heart of the Church as a reminder that God is both transcendent in majesty and intimate in mercy. When recited in the Mass, this psalm helps the faithful enter into the praise that flows from a humble and grateful heart.

Reflection

How often do we forget the gifts God has given us? Psalm 103 is a powerful remedy for spiritual amnesia. In our busy, anxious, or painful moments, it is easy to forget the ways God has healed, forgiven, rescued, and crowned us with compassion. This psalm calls us to remember—not in a nostalgic way, but as a foundation for present praise and future trust. What has God redeemed you from? What pit has He pulled you out of, even if you didn’t realize it at the time?

This reading also challenges us to let our souls lead our lives. In a world dominated by the external—image, status, performance—David teaches us to begin within: “Bless the Lord, my soul.” When our souls praise God, our actions follow. One simple step we can take is to begin or end each day by naming five specific gifts or graces we’ve received. Gratitude transforms the heart. Praise sharpens our memory and softens our pride.

So today, pause and praise. Let your whole being rise to bless the Lord—not just for what He’s done, but for who He is. The same God who revealed Himself to Moses is revealing His mercy to you. Will you remember His gifts and let your soul sing?

Holy Gospel – Matthew 11:25–27

Revealed to the Childlike

Today’s Gospel from Matthew 11 reveals the tender heart of Jesus as He praises the Father for how He chooses to make Himself known—not to the proud or learned, but to the childlike. This passage sits within a broader section of The Gospel of Matthew where Jesus is responding to both the faith and resistance He encounters during His public ministry. His words come after a series of rebukes to towns that refused to repent despite witnessing miracles. Instead of growing frustrated, Jesus turns His eyes heavenward and blesses the Father’s wisdom in choosing to work through the humble and lowly. This moment invites us into the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son and teaches us that divine revelation is not about intellectual mastery but about trustful openness. In light of today’s theme, we see once again how God chooses to disclose His mysteries to those who approach with humility—just like Moses before the burning bush, or the psalmist whose soul praises from a place of surrender.

Matthew 11:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Praise of the Father. ²⁵ At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. ²⁶ Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 25 – “At that time Jesus said in reply, ‘I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.’”
Jesus begins with a rare public prayer of praise. The title “Father, Lord of heaven and earth” is both intimate and majestic—affirming God’s sovereignty while also reflecting the personal communion between Jesus and the Father. The contrast between the “wise and learned” and the “childlike” is not a condemnation of knowledge but of prideful self-reliance. In the biblical sense, “childlike” refers to those who are humble, teachable, and dependent—traits that open the heart to revelation. Jesus is expressing joy that the kingdom of God is revealed not through human power or achievement, but through simplicity of heart.

Verse 26 – “Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.”
This short verse affirms that the Father’s way of revealing Himself to the childlike is not accidental—it is the expression of divine wisdom and will. Jesus delights in the Father’s plan, highlighting the harmony between heaven’s justice and mercy. The “gracious will” of the Father reveals the deep goodness behind the mystery of divine election: God chooses the lowly, not because they are better, but because their hearts are open. This verse echoes Isaiah 55:8, where God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.”

Verse 27 – “All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
This verse reveals the profound unity between the Father and the Son—a mutual knowing that is unique and eternal. The phrase “All things have been handed over” refers to the authority, mission, and divine knowledge entrusted to Jesus. He alone reveals the Father because He alone knows Him fully. This is a powerful Christological statement that asserts Jesus’ divine identity. Revelation, then, is not a possession we earn—it is a gift Christ freely bestows upon those who are open. Just as God revealed Himself to Moses and entrusted him with a mission, so too does Jesus reveal the Father to those He calls.

Teachings from the Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the knowledge of God is ultimately a matter of grace and revelation. In CCC 240, we read: “Jesus revealed that God is Father in an unheard-of sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son, who is eternally Son only in relation to his Father.” This passage from Matthew 11 opens a window into this eternal relationship, allowing us to glimpse the divine intimacy at the heart of the Trinity. It reminds us that our faith is not built on abstract ideas, but on a Person who desires to be known.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church and great proponent of the “little way,” lived this Gospel with stunning simplicity. She wrote, “Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood that all the flowers He has created are beautiful… so it is with souls. I understood that it takes all kinds of flowers to make a lovely spring.” Like the childlike ones praised by Jesus, Thérèse believed that holiness was about trust, not prestige. Her spirituality echoes the very heart of today’s Gospel: the Father reveals His secrets to those who know they are small.

Historically, this passage has been a cornerstone for Christian mysticism. Saints such as Augustine, Bonaventure, and John of the Cross emphasized that true knowledge of God cannot be attained by intellectual effort alone. It requires purification of the heart and surrender of the will. In the face of rationalism and Pelagianism, the Church has always returned to this Gospel to insist that salvation is a gift of grace. As CCC 1996 declares, “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call.”

Reflection

Do you approach God as one who is learned—or as one who is childlike? Jesus makes clear that revelation is a matter of the heart, not the intellect. In our age of information, we are tempted to believe that more knowledge equals more holiness. But Jesus invites us into something deeper: a heart that trusts, a soul that depends, and a mind that lets itself be formed. Have you given Jesus permission to reveal the Father to you? Or are you trying to figure God out on your own terms?

This Gospel challenges us to let go of control. Like Moses, who had to remove his sandals and surrender his plans, we too must become spiritually barefoot—ready to walk humbly into mystery. One simple practice this week is to begin each day with a childlike prayer: Jesus, I trust in You. Show me the Father today. Whether in Scripture, in the Eucharist, or in quiet acts of love, He will answer.

So today, let us praise the Father with Jesus. Let us rejoice that we don’t have to be brilliant or powerful to know God—we just need to be small enough to receive Him. And when He calls us, like Moses, we can answer with childlike confidence: “Here I am.”

Called, Crowned, and Commissioned

Today’s readings form a symphony of divine intimacy, mercy, and mission. From the burning bush in Exodus, we witness a God who speaks from holy ground, calling a hesitant Moses to liberate His people. In Psalm 103, we sing the praises of a God who forgives, heals, redeems, and reveals His ways—not just to prophets, but to every soul that remembers His goodness. Then, in The Gospel of Matthew, Jesus lifts His voice in awe and thanksgiving, proclaiming that the deepest truths of God are not unlocked by intellect, but by hearts that are humble, open, and childlike.

Together, these Scriptures invite us to pause and turn aside, to notice the fire of God flickering in our ordinary days. They remind us that our worthiness is not the measure of our calling—God calls precisely because He wants to be with us, not because we have it all figured out. He crowns us with compassion and sends us forth, revealing Himself not through power and pride, but through simplicity, trust, and surrender.

Will you respond today like Moses, like the psalmist, like the childlike soul whom Jesus blesses? Take a moment to quiet your heart and remember what God has done. Praise Him. Trust Him. Let your soul say, “Here I am.” And then, step forward in faith—knowing that the God who calls you is the One who will be with you always.

Engage with Us!

We’d love to hear how God spoke to your heart through today’s readings. Share your thoughts, prayers, or personal reflections in the comments below—your story could inspire someone else’s journey of faith! Take a moment to reflect on the questions below, and let the Holy Spirit guide your response.

First Reading – Exodus 3:1–6, 9–12
What is the “burning bush” in your life that you might be overlooking? How do you respond when God calls you to something that feels beyond your ability? What might it mean for you to “remove your sandals” and recognize holy ground today?

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103:1–4, 6–7
What gifts of God are you tempted to forget? How has God redeemed you from the “pit” in your life? What does it look like for your soul to “bless the Lord” in times of hardship?

Holy Gospel – Matthew 11:25–27
How can you grow in childlike trust and surrender in your relationship with God? Do you allow Jesus to reveal the Father to you, or do you rely mostly on your own understanding? What practices help you stay open to divine revelation in your daily life?

May your heart remain open to the voice of God, who reveals Himself to the humble, heals the broken, and sends us forth in love. Live each day with the courage of Moses, the praise of the psalmist, and the trust of a child. And in all things, may you do everything with the mercy, gentleness, and burning love that Jesus taught us.

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