Scripture Study for

The mountain upon which God speaks to Moses is a holy mountain (“Remove your sandals”), because it is a place of divine revelation. The God who speaks is the God worshiped by the ancestors. This same God promises to release the  Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The name that God reveals is similar in sound  and appearance to a form of the verb “to be.” It denotes continuing action and  may mean “I AM always.” This new name implies God’s continuing active involvement. The promise of deliverance identifies the way that God will be with the people: always present to rescue.

Paul warns the Corinthians about over-confidence in their status as Christians.  Although Baptism and Eucharist are means of union with God, they do not work automatically. Paul turns to the wilderness events to illustrate this. The miraculous events in the wilderness were of no avail for most of the people of that generation. Likewise, the Corinthians’ own calling and initiation into its mysteries was, in itself, no guarantee of salvation. They would have to demonstrate their fidelity again and again. Christian life requires persistent Christian living. 

Jesus speaks of the suddenness of recent tragedies and the possible unpreparedness of their victims. He exhorts his hearers to repent lest they suffer the same fate—not that they might be spared such calamity, but that they should be prepared for it. They should be reconciled with God before disaster strikes.  He then tells a parable to demonstrate the mercy of God. In it, God is like both the owner and the diligent worker, willing to give time to repent. However, final condemnation is still a real possibility. Jesus teaches that we should always be prepared for sudden death by being reconciled with God at all times. While  God might be patient with us, this patience requires that we participate with the opportunities that God provides for our maturing in righteousness. We risk God’s judgment if we disregard God’s grace.