Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This weekend our Diocese is having (had if you are reading this on Sunday) our Eucharistic Congress, entitled “I AM”. As I write this, we are expecting more than 5,000 people to attend the event for young adults on Friday and the Congress on Saturday. Some have wondered why we would name the event “I AM”. In the book of Exodus chapter 3, the Lord tells Moses that He has heard the prayers of His people and will set them free from slavery in Egypt. As they continue talking about how the Lord will do this, Moses asks the Lord what to say if people ask him who sent him to lead the people. God responds by saying, “This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” In other words, “I AM” is the name the Lord uses for himself.
Jesus will use this a number of times in the Gospel. Jesus describes himself in John’s Gospel as (the numbers after refer to the chapter and verse in John’s gospel): I AM the bread of life. 6:35, 48, 51; I AM the light of the world. 8:12; 9:5; I AM the door of the sheep. 10:7, 9; I AM the good shepherd. 10:11, 14; I AM the resurrection and the life. 11:25; I AM the way, the truth, and the life. 14:6; and I AM the true vine 15:1. I invite you to take time each day this week and prayerfully read these passages (and the passages before/after) so as to know the Lord more closely. Bishop Tim Freyer
