Alternate Lesson 0604 Reflections

Liturgical Note:
   If Acts 2:1-21 is read as the Epistle,
        Then Numbers 11:24-30
            is read as the Lesson of the Day

                                           Numbers 11:24-30

Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!" And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

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Moses at last receives some help.  He had been carrying the burden alone.  But now God gives the Spirit to others that they might carry the burden and give relief to Moses.

But two men who were among those so called didn't show up.  Why they didn't is a mystery.  Perhaps they were hiding.  Perhaps they were overwhelmed and didn't feel qualified.  But God knows where they are, and how to find them.  Thus when the Spirit was distributed among those called to take up the mantle of leadership and discernment, God finds them, and they act accordingly.

In the midst of this grace-filled moment, certain of the people become disturbed.  Can we relate to that?  Have we ever asked "Why them?" of anyone to God?  I dare say we all have.  And when we do, how we need to hear Moses reminding us to rejoice in the outpouring of God's Spirit, not only on those we rush to affirm, but also in those whom we are tempted to question and even find offense for words that are above all of God.

                   Father Tim+