FROM
THE SERVANT GENERAL
HOLY WARRIORS
(Part 36)
LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD
July
31, 2017
Today’s reading: Exodus 32:15-34
The chosen people of God, the Israelites, were disobedient,
rebellious and idolatrous. With Moses speaking to God at Mount
Sinai, the Israelites had fashioned a golden calf and were
worshiping it. Many of God’s people today, the Christians,
are like them. As Aaron said, “the people are prone
to evil.” (v.22b).
Aaron,
Moses’ brother, was entrusted with the care of God’s
people while Moses was away, but did not do anything to prevent
the people. In fact, he was responsible in coming up with
the golden calf. The Israelites had said, “Make us a
god to go before us” (v.23a). Aaron then said, “So
I told them, ‘Whoever is wearing gold, take it off.’
They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this
calf came out.” (v.24). Wow, talk about a lame, but
creative, excuse! Unfortunately, many clerics today are also
like Aaron. They go along with people’s sins, as they
exercise political correctness. They do not properly instruct
the faithful. They do not strongly preach and defend the faith.
They, as pastors and shepherds, are in effect mainly responsible
for idolatry (choosing mammon over God) in people’s
lives.
Then
there were the Israelites who opposed Moses, the man of God.
Seeing the people running wild and Aaron having lost control
was “to the secret delight of their foes.” (v.25).
Today there are many such Christians, in parishes, organizations
and communities. They oppose the leadership, plot against
the leadership, delight when the leaders lose control. They
would rather have disorder and disunity, even to the point
of breaking up the community, just to have a chance to have
their way.
But
Moses, the man of God, knew what to do. He looked for the
faithful remnant. “Moses stood at the gate of the camp
and shouted, ‘Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!’
All the Levites then rallied to him” (v.26). Then he
did something bold and decisive. He had the Levites run through
the camp and kill the idolaters (v.27-28). This was very much
in line with God’s instructions as they took the promised
land, even if the idolaters were His own people. While we
would not kill grave unrepentant sinners today (that would
wipe out a majority of Christians), the principle is valid
today. The purity of the body of Christ must be preserved,
at all costs. Otherwise the rot spreads and deepens.
What
was the cost? Moses told the Levites to “kill your brothers,
your friends, your neighbors!” (v.27c). And they did.
“The Levites did as Moses had commanded, and that day
about three thousand of the people fell.” (v.28). The
Levites were zealous for the true worship of God. Not even
family relations or friendships could stand in the way. As
Jesus himself has said, “If any one comes to me without
hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
(Lk 14:26). The Semitic use of “hate” means to
“love less,” that is, the disciple’s family
must take second place to the absolute dedication required
in following Jesus. That is not the case with many Christian
leaders today.
What
happened next? Moses installed the levitical priesthood. “Today
you are installed as priests for the Lord, for you went against
your own sons and brothers” (v.29a). They had proven
themselves. God was first and foremost. Serious wrongdoing,
especially idolatry, would not be condoned. Moses told them
their act would “bring a blessing upon yourselves this
day.” (v.29b). Certainly not just for that day, but
for all time.
The
Levites were warriors; now they were priests. They were holy
warriors! There is a dire need today in our Church for such.
Many Catholics are running wild, and many Church leaders have
lost control, or worse, like Aaron are mainly responsible
for the chaos and infidelity.
The
trumpets have been sounded. The Mosaic call is being shouted:
“Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” Arise,
holy warriors!
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