September 27, 2015: I Am – Michael Hidalgo

When Moses tended sheep for his father-in-law and saw the curious sight of a bush on fire that did not burn up and went over to check on things God called to him from the bush. As they enter conversation Moses asks God for his name. The answer is a mysterious name translated, “I am what I am” or “I will be what I will be.” In the Jewish tradition the name of God was often shortened to the words, “I Am” and further, the name of God YHVH or as we say it, Yahweh.

The name is the Hebrew letters, Yod, He, Vav, He. In the Jewish tradition, the name of God is never pronounced. Some said they did not pronounce the name because it allowed them to know they would never break the third commandment. However, some tradition say it is not pronounced, because it can never be pronounced. Why? Because the Name of God is simply breathing – that’s it. A breath. 

And all men and women breathe. We all have the breath of life in us. There is no American way of breathing or Republican way of breathing or – dare I say it – Christian way of breathing. God gives all humans life and breath and everything else. The name of God – that Jesus claims – proclaims the radical availability of God to all people. Just as Jesus did.