Love Poem: Vayikra of Moses
Mark Escobar Avatar
Written by: Mark Escobar

Vayikra of Moses

It draws me to think about Moses’ humility 
with his experience of the burning bush in Sinai,
like a place of discovery, so extraordinary!
that it’s burning and yet not consuming.

Being a leader to his own people of Israel,
his charism and fidelity to God he worships well,
reminds me of those responsibilities he had with them;
a great challenge and mired with so much pains.

God’s reassurance to his own people of faith,
his sheltering presence through all those years;
continued to abound with prophecies beyond,
in the heights of crises and difficulties at hand.

The burning bush or zarza ardiente in Spanish
is where God’s divine presence knows no difference
even in a lowly bush or an untrodden place
his message conveys that saving love for his people.

It is God’s Word, his plan and purpose he made with Moses;
there’s a defining experience that brings to fruition,
a remarkable change and perception of God’s will
that whoever believes and follows him becomes a disciple.

Moses in his intimate encounter with God through those years
walked with his people with constant faith in his will;
amid his humility and love for those who are suffering
his identity epitomized the “most humble of all people.” 

Note:

Vayikra: It is written in Torah scrolls with a small letter Aleph.  If we would disregard the small Aleph, the word would read “vayikar” – a word associated with a “chance encounter” – i.e. a much lower level of intimacy.  It is a statement which proclaimed his previousness in G_d’s eyes.  Moses sought to downplay this in a way that did not compromise the meaning of the original text, yet made clear to others that he was still a man of lowly spirit.