“Then
Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at
the Lord’s command. He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab,
opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses
was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired, and his
vigor had not abated.” (Deuteronomy 34:5-7)
We have now
come to the end of the series journey. In the words of St. Gregory- “For to
anyone straining to the higher life what has been said (about Moses) provides
amply for true wisdom. To anyone who shows weakness in toiling for virtue there
would be no gain even if many more things should be written than what has been
said.”
In the first
day’s posting of this series, we saw the teaching from St. Gregory that
perfection in virtue has no boundaries and while attaining complete perfection
in virtue is impossible, human beings should still strive for it. An ideal life
is characterized by its perpetual progress and to validate this statement, it
is prudent to review the entirety of Moses's life whereby his spiritual ascent never
ceased, making him loftier with each step.
Moses was born
during a period when the Egyptians considered the birth of a Hebrew child to be
an offense. Under the tyrannical ruler's decree at that time, every male
newborn was condemned. Despite this murderous law, Moses was initially
protected by his parents and subsequently by those who had enforced the law.
Ironically, those who sought his death ensured not only his survival but also
his esteemed education, introducing him to a wealth of wisdom.
He valued
virtue and its adornment more than human honour or royal dignity. Moses rescued
a fellow Hebrew and defeated the Egyptian. Subsequently, he used his period of
solitude to learn profound matters, and his understanding was illuminated by
the light emanating from the bush. Finally, he promptly shared the blessings
received from God with his countrymen. He skilfully repelled his adversaries.
He guided his people through the sea on foot, without constructing a fleet of
ships; instead, he relied on their faith as a vessel for traversing the waters.
He transformed the seabed into dry land for the Hebrews and conversely turned
the dry land into a sea for the Egyptians. He sang the victory song, followed
the pillar (of cloud), and was enlightened by heavenly fire. He set a table
from divine food, drew water from the rock, stretched his hands to defeat the
Amalekites, and ascended the mountain. He entered darkness, heard the trumpet,
approached the divine nature, and was enclosed by the heavenly tabernacle. He
adorned the priesthood, built the tabernacle, enforced laws, and waged his
final wars successfully.
His last
righteous act was punishing immorality through the priesthood, symbolized by Phinehas’s
anger against passion. St. Gregory concludes by describing Moses’s final ascent
to the mountain of rest, where he did not enter the Promised Land but reached
the pinnacle of his spiritual journey. As someone who lived by divine
providence, he no longer needed earthly sustenance. This ascent symbolizes the
completion and perfection of his life, likened to a skilled sculptor adding
final touches to his masterpiece.
“Then
Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at
the Lord’s command.” (v.5)
The Scriptures
deem Moses worthy of the sublime title "servant of Yahweh”- serving
God is the ultimate honour and to be a servant of God implies a virtuous and
distinguished life above everyone else in the world. Moses’s death represents
the culmination of a virtuous life, an end brought about by the word of God. His
death is unique and spiritually significant- a death that is not preceded by usual
signs of mortality- dimness to the eyes and physical weakening nor it is followed
by the grave or a tomb.
The life of
Moses emphasizes having a single purpose: to be recognized as servants of God
by virtue of the lives we live. The objective of agriculture is the consumption
of its produce; the purpose of constructing a house is habitation; the aim of
commerce is the accumulation of wealth; and the goal of participating in
competitions is to secure the prize. Similarly, the objective of a sublime way
of life is to be regarded as a servant of God. The honour of being a
servant of God is associated with an end that transcends the grave and
signifies a life of simplicity and purity- untainted by worldly evils.
Moses’s ‘sight
was not impaired, and his vigour had not abated.’ (v.7). St. Gregory wonders
how can the eye that is always in the light be dimmed by darkness? This
metaphor suggests that a person who is constantly in the presence of divine
light remains unaffected by evil symbolized by darkness. One who strived for
purity every moment of his life will not be marred by physical deterioration. A
person who truly embodies the image of God and maintains the divine character
reflects these qualities adorning their soul with traits that are
incorruptible, steadfast, and free from evil.
“Never since
has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew
face to face.” (v10)
May the life
and legacy of Moses kindle our hearts as we prepare for the sacred days of
Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord. Indeed Lord, save us!
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory
of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E.
Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 124-126. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics
series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978)
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a
paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited
above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during
Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views
of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original
book for a comprehensive understanding.
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