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Morning Meditation
April 28, 2026
Reading: Exodus 32:21-34
Moses said to Aaron, ‘What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?’ And Aaron said, ‘Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil.They said to me, “Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So I said to them, “Whoever has gold, take it off ”; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!’
When Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them run wild, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me!’ And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. He said to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbour.” ’ The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. Moses said, ‘Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.’
On the next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have sinned a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ So Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.’ But the LORD said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.’
Meditation-Rebecca Northington
It is not uncommon in our weekly formation meetings to hear Peter ask “what do we worship?”. As a people, it is an important question to ask. It is not always God that we worship, which is, of course, Peter’s point. He asks in the context of formation because we are tasked, both through formation and liturgy, to invite people into the worship of God through our weekly services and the accompanying formation. The golden calves and the leaders who make them for us, are everywhere. We live in a world far more saturated with idolatry and false leaders than we can navigate. Those leaders, like Aaron, are quick to blame sin and evil upon the people and rid themselves of responsibility. It is a cautionary tale that has been retold and relived time and again.
This passage explores the danger of idolatry and God’s resulting wrath; the fickle nature of weak leaders, but also the strength of a loving and sacrificial heart. Moses, once again foreshadowing Jesus, offers to atone for the people's sins. He begs for mercy, and God reminds him that punishment will come to those who warrant it.
When I consider the question: “what do you worship?”, and the youth to whom I minister, I think of all the material wealth in this area, yes, but also the insatiable appetite for justice that accompanies adolescence. Humans hunger for righteousness over mercy, especially teenagers. The teenage landscape can be wrought with public and social minefields, and the more mercy that they can show one another the better. Judgement is an attempt for control or power, both of which encompass a kind of idolatry.
As difficult as it is, we should all turn away from the false gods that lie in the material and in the ego, that tempt and seduce all humans. Additionally I believe we should strive for the sacrificial heart of Moses, and the mercy and patience that cultivate a loving community and a loving people.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
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