The power of intercession
July 31, 2023 - Monday, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Psalm 106:19-23
Psalm 106 reflects upon Israel's tumultuous history, marked by their unfaithfulness to God. One significant sin that resounds even today is their worship of the golden calf at the foot of Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai). This act of idolatry occurred while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, which expressly prohibited the worship of idols (Exodus 32). It is important to note that the people were already acquainted with these commandments, as they had heard them directly from God (Exodus 20:1-20). The consequences of their sin were severe, with God even expressing the desire to exterminate them. It was Moses' intercessory prayer that saved the people from such a fate.
In his prayer, Moses employed two persuasive arguments to sway God's wrath toward mercy. Firstly, he emphasized that the destruction of the Israelites would tarnish God's reputation among the nations. The Egyptians, who had witnessed God's miraculous deeds in liberating His people, could accuse Him of ill intentions, claiming that He led them out of Egypt only to destroy them in the mountains (Exodus 32:12). Secondly, Moses appealed to God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, reminding Him of His promise to establish an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7).
Our Catechism provides an insightful comment regarding the power of Moses' intercessory prayer: "God is love; He is, therefore, righteous and faithful; He cannot contradict Himself; He must remember His marvelous deeds since His glory is at stake, and He cannot forsake this people that bears His name" (CCC, 2577).
Moses' prayer should serve as an inspiration for all of us, acknowledging that we, too, are sinners. As disciples of Christ, we have fallen short of the Gospel's standards on numerous occasions. Many of us have been lured into worshiping other "lords" besides Christ the Lord. However, instead of causing division within the Church or seeking to establish new factions, we should follow the example of Moses and intercede for our Catholic Church. We ought to pray fervently that the Lord, in His mercy, will transform us, sinners, into saints, guiding us back to the path of righteousness and unity.
By embracing a spirit of intercession, we can implore God to pour out His grace upon the Church, renewing our commitment to Christ's teachings and restoring the Church's integrity and mission. Through prayer and unwavering faith, we can hope for a revitalized Church that shines forth as a beacon of love, truth, and unity in a world desperately in need of God's healing and redemption.