December 8.Moses’ family.   Read some stories from Exodus and Numbers about Moses, another one of the giant figures. The two important events are the escape from Egypt and the Commandments. After some time in Egypt the Israelites became so numerous that they were seen as a threat, so the Pharaohs enslaved and maltreated them. One approach was to kill all male babies. Baby Moses was saved by his sister who put him in a basket in the river where the Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing. She found him and brought him up. After killing a guard who was mistreating one of the Israelites he had to flee. He married a foreign woman but remained true to his own people. When God called him from the burning bush he agreed to lead his people out of their slavery. This was no easy task and demanded patience from God and all the people. On their journey through the desert God gave Moses his law, the Ten Commandments.

We know little about his family life. He was from the priestly tribe of Levi. In his mission Moses’ brother Aaron, a priest, and sister Miriam were constantly at his side. Aaron and Miriam became jealous of Moses’s close relationship with God. God called the three of them to account and Miriam was punished with leprosy. When Moses interceded with God on her behalf she was cured.

The Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises, as anybody else might be called slow but he is being patient with you all, not wanting anybody to be lost and everybody to be brought to change his ways. 2 Peter 3:8-14. Pope Francis: doing what is right means more than “judging what seems best” AL 265. For reflection and discussion. Consider Moses’ openness to his own people and his patience with them. He could have lived comfortably in Pharaoh’s house all his life. What can we learn from Moses family? Each of the three had a role to play but clearly the sister had the minor role.