💖 HOMILY - JULY 29 💖

First Reading - Exodus 33:7-11,34:5-9,28

Gospel - John 11:19-27 (Proper to the Memoria)

There is a deep yearning in every human heart to know that God is near — not distant or indifferent, but personally present, especially in times of sorrow, doubt, or death. Today’s readings give us a powerful glimpse of the God who draws near in intimacy and who brings life out of death.

In the first reading, we witness something profoundly beautiful: Moses enters the tent of meeting, and the Lord speaks with him “face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” This is not a God who hides in mystery, but One who chooses to enter into relationship. God reveals His name and character to Moses: “The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” In a moment when Israel had fallen into idolatry, this is how God identifies Himself — not as a judge ready to destroy, but as a Father who is rich in mercy.

This passage tells us something essential: God desires to be known, and He desires to be near. He is not a distant deity, but a companion and a friend. Moses remains with the Lord for forty days, sustained not by food or drink, but by God’s presence and Word. This intimacy is what gives Moses strength to lead and intercede.

In the Gospel, we encounter another scene of intimacy — this time in the house of mourning. Lazarus has died, and his sister Martha goes out to meet Jesus. Her words are filled with grief and hope: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” It is a raw, honest statement. Yet what follows is one of the most powerful declarations in the Gospels. Jesus tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

This is not simply a promise for the future. It is a present reality. Jesus Himself is the source of life — not just physical life, but eternal, unshakable life. And when Martha affirms her faith — “Yes, Lord, I believe…” — she becomes a witness to the truth that in Christ, even death is not the end.

These two readings together show us a God who both reveals His heart and offers His life. In Exodus, we see the Lord’s glory passing before Moses, declaring mercy. In the Gospel, we see that mercy embodied in Jesus, standing beside the grieving, promising resurrection.

So what do these readings say to us?

They remind us that faith is not merely belief in doctrines, but a living relationship with a God who knows us, speaks with us, weeps with us, and raises us. Like Moses, we are called to seek His face. Like Martha, we are invited to bring our questions and sorrow to Him — and to discover that He is the Resurrection and the Life.

Even when we do not understand, even when we grieve, we are not alone. God’s glory is not just in power and might, but in His closeness, His compassion, and His fidelity.

Let us then enter the “tent of meeting” each day — in prayer, in Scripture, in the sacraments — and speak to God as one speaks to a friend. And when we face death — of loved ones, of dreams, of hope — let us remember the words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life.”

And may that living faith sustain us with the strength of Moses and the trust of Martha, until the day when all who believe will see the fullness of God's glory, face to face.