Moses
A lesson for all of us.
Editor’s Note: This is a summary of a homily that Fr. Ben Daghir preached at Holy Spirit Parish in DuBois. The reading was Exodus (3:1–8a, 13–15).
Today, we listen to a pivotal moment in the life of Moses. He notices the burning bush.
In fact, do you know how old Moses was when he encountered the burning bush?
Was he 20 years old? No.
Was he 30 or 40 years old? No.
Was he 50 or 60 years old? No.
Was he 70 years old? No.
Moses is 80 years old when he sees the burning bush. Yes, 80. Moses is not a young man. He is not in the prime of his youth or the peak of physical strength. Yet, it is at the age of 80 that God calls him to one of the greatest missions in salvation history: to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery and into freedom.
Let that sink in: Moses’ mission didn’t begin when he was young. His great mission began when many might assume it was time to slow down and to pass the torch.
What might this mean for many of you listening to me today?
When Moses approaches the burning bush, Scripture says, “He looked...and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” What does Moses do? He doesn't shrug and say, “I've seen it all.” No — he’s filled with wonder and awe. He says, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight.”
Do we still have that sense of wonder and awe or have we lost it over the years?
God can meet us anywhere and at anytime and under any circumstances. But, I believe God prefers to encounter us — not in boredom, not in routine, but in holy curiosity, wonder, and awe.
For those of you who share a similar age to that of Moses when he encountered the burning bush, you have seen much in your lives — joy, loss, sickness, healing, heartbreak, love, birth, death — and yet, God is still revealing Himself to you.
Do you have the same wonder and awe like that of Moses?
God didn’t say to Moses, “Rest, you’ve done enough.” Instead, God said to Moses, “I have seen the misery of my people... I have come down to rescue them. Now go, I am sending YOU.”
God has seen our Egypt — the confusion in the culture, the loss of faith in families, and the struggles of our young people. Every family has members who have left the Church and no longer practice the faith. This difficult reality and the weight of it can often be a burden on grandparents and on those who remember our Churches filled with many more people.
Don’t forget — God has seen our Egypt. He knows the pain, the weight, and the difficulty.
I wonder if God is speaking to you, just like He did to Moses: “I have seen the misery of my people... I have come down to rescue them. Now go, I am sending YOU.”
You. Yes, you.
You who still pray. You who still come to Mass. You who practice our beautiful faith. You who have seen God's faithfulness in storms and in darkness. You who have raised children, buried loved ones, stayed faithful through illnesses, conflicts, and adversities.
You. Yes, you.
When I was 13 years old, I listened to St. John Paul II preach. He was struggling with Parkinson’s disease. His hands shook, his body was bent, his words were slow — but there was fire in his voice. There was boldness. There was faith that defied age and sickness. There was a sheer confidence in the Gospel.
That image of him boldly preaching has never left me.
Our young people are desperate to see that kind of courage today. Not just from priests or bishops, but from you. Young people are looking to their grandparents, their parents, older role models, to see what faith looks like in real life.
Will young people always listen? No.
Did the Israelites complain to Moses? Yes — constantly!
But Moses didn’t give up.
We talk a lot about young priests, young families, young leaders. And yes, that’s a blessing. But let me be very clear — we also need more Moses-like figures.
We’re still surrounded by voices of fear, of confusion, of division. We need Moses-like figures in the Church who say, “I’ve been through worse. I’ve seen God do the impossible. I know the way — and I will walk it with you. We will move forward.”
Speak up. Step forward. Be bold. Be the Moses your family needs. Be the Moses this Church needs.
Fr. Ben Daghir
Beautifully done Fr Daghir ! God chose Moses at an advanced age and he stuttered! Aaron often spoke for him but God picked Moses just the same. Moses had fire.
This is so beautiful! Yes, we are the answers to the world's problems and we are never to young or old to do the will of God!