Unravel the profound significance of God’s name revealed to Moses, emphasizing the deep connection between humanity and the Divine. Explore the mystery of 'I am who I am,' which showcases God's unchanging nature and love. Dive into the themes of mercy and grace, reflecting on God’s unwavering faithfulness, even amidst human failures. Discover the theological implications of God's sacred name across various languages and its vital role in the New Testament, reinforcing the unity of the Holy Trinity.
God's Divine Name revealed in Scripture emphasizes His infinite nature while highlighting His eagerness to connect personally with humanity.
Despite human unfaithfulness, God's steadfast love and mercy are profoundly evident, showcasing His commitment to guide and forgive His people.
Deep dives
The Revelation of God's Name
God reveals His name to Moses as YHWH, which translates to 'I am who I am,' signifying His eternal presence and essence. This divine name symbolizes a deep mystery, emphasizing that God is infinitely beyond human comprehension while simultaneously making Himself accessible. As the narrative recounts, God’s name embodies His faithful nature, affirming His constant presence to save and guide His people throughout history. This moment highlights a profound relational aspect of God, encouraging believers to acknowledge His holiness and approach Him with reverence.
God's Mercy and Faithfulness
Despite the people of Israel's unfaithfulness, God consistently reveals Himself as merciful and gracious, demonstrating His commitment even when humanity falls short. The podcast underscores God's patience and readiness to forgive, as illustrated by His interaction with Moses and the proclamation of His goodness. This characteristic of God reinforces the understanding that His divine love is steadfast, enduring across generations, highlighting a relationship based on grace rather than mere obedience. The act of God giving His Son for salvation serves as the ultimate testament to His rich mercy and faithfulness.
The Ineffable Nature of God
The discussion also draws attention to the profound recognition of human insignificance in the presence of God's majesty, exemplified by biblical figures like Moses and Peter. Each example illustrates a humbling awareness of one's limitations juxtaposed with the glory and holiness of God, eliciting fear and awe. God's ineffable name is treated with great reverence, leading to the practice of substituting 'Lord' in place of YHWH during readings, ensuring that respect for His holiness is upheld. This interplay between reverence and accessibility signifies God's desire for a relationship with humanity, marked by love and mercy.
We can learn a lot about the nature of God from his Divine Name revealed in Scripture. When God said to Moses, “I am who I am,” this was a revelation of a name as well as a refusal of a name. Fr. Mike explains how this mystery reveals truths about God: he is infinitely above all things; we cannot comprehend him, yet he draws close to us. This Divine Name expresses the steadfast, faithful, unchanging love of God for his people, even when we betray and abandon him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 205-211.
This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy
Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode