Friday after Quasimodo geniti
Scripture: Exodus 31:1-18 (NKJV)
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle—8 the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base—10 the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
12 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'” 18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
Devotion
“And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” Our God is a personal God. He took time personally to explain His laws to Moses and personally inscribed His “Testimony” on “tablets of stone.” Yet, long before God’s Law was inscribed in stone, God inscribed His Law in the heart of man. Thus man “is without excuse,” as St. Paul wrote to the Romans. Though one cannot be saved by the Law, one cannot say before God, “I didn’t know it was wrong,” and in that way try to blame God for not telling him. The Law is “built in,” so to speak.
However, it does not work that way with the Gospel. When God created man He “built in” the Law. But all that changed when Adam and Eve sinned. They were now unable to keep the Law, and as a result of sinning they were going to die. Thankfully, God came and told them what they could not know on their own. He proclaimed the Gospel to them.
For countless generations God has continued to bring the Gospel of forgiveness of sins to people. This Good News is not inscribed in stone. Rather, it is inscribed upon a wooden cross with the Blood of Christ. In His own dear Son God has redeemed the world. With the water of Holy Baptism He inscribed His Name upon you and placed you into Christ, giving you forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
