The remedy to our troubles, our addictions, our chains that keep our spirit from becoming its true self is to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. What does this mean? In Greek, sin means, “missing the mark”. Now avoid missing the mark we need to practice hitting the bulls eye and becoming faithful to the Gospel. This is our aim, to become faithful to the Gospel. How do we do this? Most of all, What does it mean? In the Old Testament, “taking the Book of the Covenant, Moses read it aloud to the people, who then answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” This is from Exodus 24. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders beheld the God of Israel. Under His feet there appeared to be Sapphire tile work as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not smite these chosen ones. After gazing on God they could still eat and drink.
To get the original 10 Commandments it took 6 days on the mountain top, only Moses and Joshua could be there. This when the rest of the people began to party. They believed Moses and the rest of them died on the mountain for Moses stayed another 40 days and 40 nights. While on the mountain, Moses saw an angel hand him the tablets and he heard the voice of God. He did not come face to face with God but His angel. (This is confusing because the writings say Moses talked face to face with God.) On a side note, Apple’s Steve Jobs, got his idea to call Face-Time from this very Scripture passage. Doesn’t this sound far-fetched, but its true. Here is the answer, humanity. “There is nothing left for you to boast about this Lenten Season, for your hope lies in putting to death all that is your own and seeking the future life that is in Christ Jesus. And since we now have its “First Fruits” (10 Commandments) we are already in its midst, living entirely in the grace and the gift of God. St. Basil the Great It is now God, who is active within us, giving us both the will and the grace to achieve what God has planned for us. Working hand in hand with God, like Moses, God will always rescue us from the dangers life will bring us. God’s power is the source of all immortality. Please pray for the growth of the Hermits of St. Giles and all those who are home bound because of illness and disability. Have yourself a most blessed Lent.
Your little brother in Christ Jesus,
Mark
Hermits of St. Giles