Then [God] said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance . . . Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel . . . and they ate and drank (Exodus 24:1-11, NASB).
Not only were Nadab and Abihu priests, and sons of the high priest – they also received an invitation from God to dine with Him. Yet, not many days later, God killed them when they performed their priestly office “with strange fire” (See Leviticus 10:1-2).
We can’t know for certain what the strange fire was, but I infer from the context that Nadab and Abihu had treated God with neither obedience nor reverence. Perhaps they presumed on their relationship with God because they had eaten with Him. Perhaps they believed they no longer needed to act as reverently or obediently toward God, as He required of others.
Presumption toward the Almighty is a perilous attitude.
At each Mass, Catholics have the privilege to dine with the Lord and receive Him in His most Holy Eucharist. And we are also at great risk if we presume the Lord does not require we treat Him with obedience – and reverence.
Not only were Nadab and Abihu priests, and sons of the high priest – they also received an invitation from God to dine with Him. Yet, not many days later, God killed them when they performed their priestly office “with strange fire” (See Leviticus 10:1-2).
We can’t know for certain what the strange fire was, but I infer from the context that Nadab and Abihu had treated God with neither obedience nor reverence. Perhaps they presumed on their relationship with God because they had eaten with Him. Perhaps they believed they no longer needed to act as reverently or obediently toward God, as He required of others.
Presumption toward the Almighty is a perilous attitude.
At each Mass, Catholics have the privilege to dine with the Lord and receive Him in His most Holy Eucharist. And we are also at great risk if we presume the Lord does not require we treat Him with obedience – and reverence.
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