Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Remembrance of Nunzia, a mentally disabled woman who died in Naples in 1991; with her we remember all the mentally disabled people who have fallen asleep in the Lord.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Exodus 34,29-35

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, as he was coming down the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant because he had been talking to him. And when Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin on his face was so radiant that they were afraid to go near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the community rejoined him, and Moses talked to them, after which all the Israelites came closer, and he passed on to them all the orders that Yahweh had given to him on Mount Sinai. Once Moses had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went into Yahweh's presence to speak with him, he took the veil off until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what orders he had been given, and the Israelites would see Moses' face radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak to him next time.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Moses has just come down from the Mount where he has again received the tables of the Law, that Word which will have to direct the life of his people. There he received again, after Israel had abandoned him, the revelation of the name of God, "merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love and faithfulness." How could Moses' face not be "shining" after having conversed with the Lord? Three times it is repeated that "the skin of his face was shining." When we listen, even more when we speak with God, because this happens when we listen and meditate on his word, our face cannot but shine to show the beauty of God, his merciful presence. Faces always sad and angry are not a sign of God's presence! The veil that Moses put on his face talking to the Israelites perhaps wants to prevent them from being overwhelmed by the light so bright expressed by his encounter with God. Let's think of our days and our numerous meetings and let us wonder: Are those who meet us able to see on our face the light of God who spoke to us? Let us think of the need that others have to meet the light of God through us, so that they too will be transfigured in their humanity.