I will be with you.

Moses was a prince of Egypt. He received the finest education and upbringing in Egypt, an adopted son of Pharaoh. But he discovered his true identity, that he was of Hebrew descent. After taking a life of an Egyptian, by defending a fellow Hebrew, he escaped into the desert and went to the land of Midian, and began a new life. There, he married a gentile woman who worship another God. Would anyone take him seriously? But God has chosen Moses to free the Hebrews. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and God said to him to return to Egypt, and tell Pharaoh: “Let my people go.” Moses had many reasons not to go back. He had a death sentence hanging over him. He is a fugitive. It is believed that Moses had a speech impediment. But God assures Moses of His presence. God said to Moses: “I will be with you (Exodus 3:12).” There was no step-by-step plan, or a promise of a backup army. It was just the promise of God's presence. “I will be with you.” As it turns out, God's presence was all that Moses needed. Moses was able to defeat Pharaoh with God's help. There were the ten plagues. Then Moses parted the Red Sea, and there was food and water in the desert, and they were able to navigate through the desert. All of this happen because of God's presence with Moses. God said: “I will be with you.” As we reflect upon this story, perhaps we may have been in a similar situation. Our life has many ups and downs. We face challenges and trials from time to time. Sometimes God asks us to do something that we don't feel equipped or capable of pulling off. Perhaps we protest and say to God: “Lord, I think you're asking the wrong person. I can't do this.” But God can reassure us, just as God does for Moses. “I will be with you.” We are reminded of God's presence at Mass. As the Priest says after the sign of the Cross. The Lord be with you.

I remember the story of Mother Angelica, the one who started the EWTN, so that everyone throughout can watch the Mass on television, and other religious programs. And one of the things that she shared was how everyone thought it was such a crazy idea for her to start the television program. And she shared: “If we can't do the ridiculous, God can't do the miraculous.”

Whatever situation that we find ourselves in, let us be reassured of God's presence with us. No situation is too complex or difficult for His power and presence to resolve. God is with us, God will guide us step-by-step. God will comfort us when it feels that we have failed. God will give us the wisdom and patience that we need, and all we need is to trust. God said: “I will be with you.”