Pondering Today's Word

Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38

Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him.
On the first day of the first month of the second year
the Dwelling was erected.
It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.
He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,
and set up its columns.
He spread the tent over the Dwelling
and put the covering on top of the tent,
as the LORD had commanded him.
He took the commandments and put them in the ark;
he placed poles alongside the ark
and set the propitiatory upon it.
He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,
thus screening off the ark of the commandments,
as the LORD had commanded him.

Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Moses could not enter the meeting tent,
because the cloud settled down upon it
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;
only when it lifted did they go forward.
In the daytime
the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;
whereas at night,
fire was seen in the cloud by the whole house of Israel
in all the stages of their journey.

This rich passage paints a beautiful picture of Israel's belief that God had pitched his tent (tabernacled) among his people and was accompanying them on their journey. (Here is a great illustration and further commentary on the tent of Dwelling. This image is one often referenced in the scriptures we hear at Sunday Mass - don't miss this!) In the tent were the stone tablets on which were inscribed the commandments God had given to Moses. These stone tablets were placed in an ark (a cabinet - not Noah's vessel!) and were, for the Israelites, a sign of God's presence in their midst. Remember, the chosen people believed that the law was a gift, not a burden.

To this day, the chosen of the new covenant build structures (church buildings) which house God's presence in several ways. Such a building was originally called a domus ecclesiae, that is, the house of the church, or: the house of the people of God, gathered together as the church. In such houses God's people pray and when they do the Lord is present in their gathering, in the Word proclaimed and preached and in the celebration of the Eucharist. Finally, the Lord is present in the reserved sacrament, carefully kept in the tabernacle: a "tent" of the gift of the Lord's presence.

The Dwelling in Israel's camp was revered as a holy place. This scripture might prompt us to ponder how we reverence the holiness of our church building and the Lord's presence there in the assembly of the faithful and the Lord's Word and Sacrament. Parents might ask themselves how they might help their children reverence such a sacred place. And we who have grown older might ask ourselves if we have forgotten some of the reverence we grew up with in the Catholic faith.

Let us pray...

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord God of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young– Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you. Blessed the men whose strength you are! They go from strength to strength.
I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord God of hosts!
(Psalm 84)