Do You Realize That God Is With Us Always?

Exodus 3:13-20
Matthew 11:28-30

Have you ever been asked the question, “What is the name of God?”, What did you say?  How did you try to “name” God?  Perhaps you described God as Creator, Supreme Being, Father, Redeemer, Spirit, ultimate Judge, punisher of evil and bringer of Justice?  Or, perhaps you focused on some of the attributes of God, e.g., compassionate, all-powerful, forgiving, loving, kind, patient, self-giving, etc.?  Most times our answer seem inadequate. In today’s first reading, Moses asks that question.  He asked God himself as God instructed him to lead the People of Israel out of Egypt where they were being oppressed.  “…if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”  God replied, “I am who am.” If the children of Israel ask you who sent you, tell them that “I AM sent me to you.

The text goes on and mentions their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and though the people living then had only heard about these important and ancient ancestors, God testified that He was present to them as well.  God wants them to understand that He was not only present to their famous forebears, but God is present to them right now.  “This is my name forever;
this my title for all generations.” I guess, it must have been difficult for them to understand that God is with them. They were living as slaves and had no hope of anything better.  How could God possibly be present to them?

There are times in our lives when we’ve felt the same way.  Where is God in all this? How could God be present here in this time of suffering?  Why is God absent…or silent?  Has He abandoned us in this dire straits of life? O God, where are you??  The testimony of our first reading challenges us to realize that God is present here, now, in this situation and in any given situation we find ourselves? And, God hears and listens deeply to our cry.  He always responds with His great love.  With His love, mercy and compassion, He is always present in our midst, do we realize and appreciate it?

Fr Joseph Osho