Others hold us up (OLMC Scripture Class)

Aaron and Hur supported his hands,
 one on one side and one on the other,
 so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

 –Exodus 17:12

    We need the support of community. When our prayer is not effective, others hold us up – spiritually and metaphorically. We can even take turns. When in need, we ask for prayers from other people. We ask for their love. 

    Aaron and Hur support Moses’ hands physically – imagine how tired their arms must have been. They bear his weight for a whole day. 

    Holding hands during the Lord’s prayer gives us a sense of community, expressing the bond that we feel when we are all together. Whenever there is a threat, we go to that bond, and everyone feels closer to everyone else. 

    This is why touch is important, especially for those who live alone. This is why we hug one another, why we embrace when we meet. We share our lives with one another, and we open others’ lives and we treasure them. When we embrace one another, we give expression to God’s love on earth, revealing it to our world. 

--Reflections from participants,
OLMC’s Scripture Class,
October 2022

Image source 1: Our Ladies of Mount Carmel supporting OLMC Cursillista Linda Mencken, October 2025. Photo courtesy of Jackie Bacon.
Image source 2: Aaron and Hur Holding Up the Hands of Moses as Joshua and the Israelites Defeat the Amalekites, chromolithograph after a drawing by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872), https://www.meisterdrucke.us/fine-art-prints/English-School/1326660/Aaron-and-Hur-Holding-Up-the-Hands-of-Moses-as-Joshua-and-the-Israelites-Defeat-the-Amalekites.html