Today we have the famous scene when Moses received his mission to be the leader of his people and rescue them from their sufferings in Egypt. Deep in the wilderness beside Mount Horeb he comes across a bush on fire but which is not being consumed. As he approaches, the voice of God speaks from the bush and tells him to take off his shoes and keep his distance. Moses is alarmed because there was a belief that no one could look on the face of God and live. Moses will be an exception to this. He now gets his mission to go to the Pharaoh and demand that his people be allowed to leave Egypt and to bring them back to Horeb.

Let us today ask ourselves what mission we have been given by God. And, if, like Moses, we are only too conscious of our shortcomings, let us remember that one of the greatest prophets of Israel was a man who had committed murder, even if that murder was in defence of fellow-Hebrews. God, unlike society, does not look at our past but at our present and future potential.