Saint Bridget of Sweden, religious
Biographical Information about Saint Bridget of Sweden[1]
Readings for Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 14:5-18
The great exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt is complicated as Pharaoh has a change of heart and sends his armies to bring them back to servitude. Seeing their hopeless fate and lacking faith in God they cry out against Moses. God prepares a mighty sign for both the people of Israel and the Egyptians as he asks Moses to lift his staff and part the waters of the sea so the people can walk through.
Responsorial Psalm Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
This poem from Exodus celebrates God’s wondrous act of salvation as it recalls what takes place in the first reading.
Gospel Mt 12:38-42
In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel the Scribes and Pharisees demand a sign even though the Lord has been performing cures and exorcisms in front of them. Jesus reply tells them in no uncertain terms that no sign will be given to them. Using a reference first to Jonah, then to the covenant of Moses and finally to the wisdom of Solomon, he calls them unfaithful (literally adulterous) in their failure to understand that he is sent by God and his mission.
Reflection:
How many times in our own prayer have we asked God “for a sign” so that we might be convinced that He has heard us and is present to us? It may not have been in the same spirit as the Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel passage today. In spite of all the cures he has performed, they believe that Jesus is agent of Satan. Jesus understands their doubt and sees in their hearts the obstinacy of Pharaoh as he pursued the Children of Israel through the sea.
Nothing he can do would change their conceptions of him. It is a case of “don’t confuse us with the facts “situation. He says as much as he uses examples from history. He tells them in no uncertain terms that he is more than a prophet like Jonah and more than the wisdom of Solomon. They will not believe – they too will follow a damned path that will ultimately give glory to God in spite of themselves.
Now we come back to ourselves. We ask for signs as well, seeing the glory of God’s creation and the marvels he has worked in our own history of salvation, we ask for more signs. If we cannot see the love of God in what he has already done for us, how can we expect anything the Lord is likely to do in our lives to convince us any further?
Like wise, when we encounter others who challenge the very existence of God, what proofs can we offer beyond what God has already done in their lives that would convince them further? It ultimately comes down to faith. If we do not want to believe there is a loving God who sent his Son into the world so that we might have peace in this life and salvation in the next, there is little anyone, even God can do to change our minds. We are cut off by our own choices.
Today we reach out with confidence to that same God who performed great wonders for our ancestors who none the less failed in their belief. We ask God for the strength to walk with him today and be at peace, knowing that he is with us and will open the way before us if we look with faith upon that way.
Biographical Information about Saint Bridget of Sweden[1]
Readings for Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ex 14:5-18
The great exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt is complicated as Pharaoh has a change of heart and sends his armies to bring them back to servitude. Seeing their hopeless fate and lacking faith in God they cry out against Moses. God prepares a mighty sign for both the people of Israel and the Egyptians as he asks Moses to lift his staff and part the waters of the sea so the people can walk through.
Responsorial Psalm Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
This poem from Exodus celebrates God’s wondrous act of salvation as it recalls what takes place in the first reading.
Gospel Mt 12:38-42
In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel the Scribes and Pharisees demand a sign even though the Lord has been performing cures and exorcisms in front of them. Jesus reply tells them in no uncertain terms that no sign will be given to them. Using a reference first to Jonah, then to the covenant of Moses and finally to the wisdom of Solomon, he calls them unfaithful (literally adulterous) in their failure to understand that he is sent by God and his mission.
Reflection:
How many times in our own prayer have we asked God “for a sign” so that we might be convinced that He has heard us and is present to us? It may not have been in the same spirit as the Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel passage today. In spite of all the cures he has performed, they believe that Jesus is agent of Satan. Jesus understands their doubt and sees in their hearts the obstinacy of Pharaoh as he pursued the Children of Israel through the sea.
Nothing he can do would change their conceptions of him. It is a case of “don’t confuse us with the facts “situation. He says as much as he uses examples from history. He tells them in no uncertain terms that he is more than a prophet like Jonah and more than the wisdom of Solomon. They will not believe – they too will follow a damned path that will ultimately give glory to God in spite of themselves.
Now we come back to ourselves. We ask for signs as well, seeing the glory of God’s creation and the marvels he has worked in our own history of salvation, we ask for more signs. If we cannot see the love of God in what he has already done for us, how can we expect anything the Lord is likely to do in our lives to convince us any further?
Like wise, when we encounter others who challenge the very existence of God, what proofs can we offer beyond what God has already done in their lives that would convince them further? It ultimately comes down to faith. If we do not want to believe there is a loving God who sent his Son into the world so that we might have peace in this life and salvation in the next, there is little anyone, even God can do to change our minds. We are cut off by our own choices.
Today we reach out with confidence to that same God who performed great wonders for our ancestors who none the less failed in their belief. We ask God for the strength to walk with him today and be at peace, knowing that he is with us and will open the way before us if we look with faith upon that way.
Pax
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