The Constitution of a New Humanity

To wrap up this "Theo-drama," Bishop Barron looks at the climax of the Exodus: the arrival at Mount Sinai. This is where the liberation from Pharaoh finds its purpose. For Barron, the Law and the Tabernacle aren't "rules and rituals" but the Constitution of a New Humanity.

1. The Ten Commandments: The Grammar of Freedom

Barron often corrects the misconception that the Commandments are "burdensome rules." Instead, he compares them to the rules of a language or the laws of physics.

• The Vertical Dimension (Commandments 1–3): These ensure that God—and only God—is at the center of life. If you get the "vertical" relationship right (no idols, honoring the Sabbath), everything else falls into place.

• The Horizontal Dimension (Commandments 4–10): Once God is the center, your relationships with others (parents, neighbors, spouses) become ordered. You don't kill, steal, or covet because you no longer see others as rivals for limited resources, but as fellow creatures.

• The "Ledge of the Mountain": Barron describes the Law as a "safety rail" on a dangerous mountain pass. It doesn't restrict your hike; it prevents you from falling into the abyss of self-destruction.

2. The Tabernacle: Eden Restored

The latter half of Exodus is famously dense with instructions on how to build the Tabernacle (the portable tent-temple). Barron explains why this matters:

• The Dwelling Place: The Tabernacle is designed to be a "mini-Eden." It is filled with garden imagery (gold flowers, lampstands like trees, cherubim).

• The Center of the Camp: When the Israelites traveled, the Tabernacle was always in the dead center. This is the spatial realization of "right praise"—the community is literally organized around the presence of God.

• The Shekinah Glory: When the tent is finished, the "glory of the Lord" fills it. This is the "Great Return." God, who walked with man in the garden and was "pushed out" by sin, has finally found a way to live among His people again.

3. The Priesthood: Mediators of Grace

Barron notes that with the Tabernacle comes the Levitical Priesthood.

• The Role: The priest is the one who "orders" the sacrifice.

• The Meaning: Sacrifice isn't about "feeding" a hungry God; it's about the human person offering their life back to the Creator. The priests act as the "nervous system" of the nation, keeping the people connected to their Source.

4. The Final Summary: The Bible's Big Arc

As we finish the journey from Genesis 1 to the end of Exodus, Barron highlights the beautiful symmetry of the story:

Stage

The Condition of Humanity

Eden

Perfect harmony; God and man walk together.

The Fall

Exile; humanity is "scattered" and "clashy" (Babel).

The Patriarchs

The "Seed"; God picks a family to start the healing.

Exodus

The "Rescue"; God breaks the chains of false gods (Pharaoh).

Sinai

The Homecoming; God dwells in the center of His people again.