Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 / Matthew 11:25-27
To a certain extent, we can say that the economic growth and success of Singapore was built on the generation who experienced the war, and also on the post-generation.
We can call them "the old guard" and it's not just in reference to that generation of political leaders, but also in reference to those men and women in their 60s and above who had faced the turmoils and hardships of the Japanese Occupation and the other set-backs of life in that traumatic period.
Yes, what Singapore is today is built on their shoulders, and we have to give them credit for that.
We heard in the 1st reading that Moses was looking after the sheep.
But he had already experienced many turmoils and setbacks in life.
He was born under the threat of death and he was rescued from the waters of the river.
He was a Jew but he lived as an Egyptian.
He killed an Egyptian and he had to flee into the wilderness and ended up looking after sheep for his father-in-law.
Just when he thought that his life was burning to the end of its wick, he had the burning bush experience.
In that mystical burning bush experience, God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.
Maybe it was the tough experiences of life that molded him for the mission ahead.
Indeed the mystical burning bush tells us something about ourselves whenever God calls and chooses us to do His work.
We are like that burning bush that was blazing but yet not burnt up.
Like the forefathers of our faith, we won't be consumed by the difficulties and struggles when doing the work of God and His will.
More so when we receive the Eucharist, the fire of God's love will keep us burning with zeal for God.