(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
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"The Israelites after Crossing the Red Sea,”
by Hans Jordaens III, 1620s |
Readings for Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: Exodus 12:37-42
The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth,
about six hundred thousand men on foot,
not counting the little ones.
A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them,
besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds.
Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened,
they baked it into unleavened loaves.
They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity
even to prepare food for the journey.
The time the children of Israel had stayed in Egypt
was four hundred and thirty years.
At the end of four hundred and thirty years,
all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date.
This was a night of vigil for the LORD,
as he led them out of the land of Egypt;
so on this same night
all the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the LORD
throughout their generations.
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Commentary on Ex 12:37-42
Following the tenth plague visited upon the Egyptians in the story of the Exodus, Pharaoh has released the people of Israel, and, in this passage, they are leaving Egypt under Moses’ leadership. As they were instructed in the rules for Passover, the bread is unleavened and their parting is hurried.
The numbers referenced in the passage may have been symbolic of a very large number (as is seen in other parts of the Old Testament, cf. Numbers 1:46; 26:51). The event is remembered by the Church today as it is captured in the Exultet, proclaimed at the Easter Vigil Mass: "This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin. This is the night that even now, throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones." [5]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 136:1 and 23-24, 10-12, 13-15
R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Who remembered us in our abjection,
for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born,
for his mercy endures forever;
And brought out Israel from their midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who split the Red Sea in twain,
for his mercy endures forever;
And led Israel through its midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 136:1 and 23-24, 10-12, 13-15
Psalm 136 gives thanks for God’s intervention for the people in bondage in Egypt. It recalls the events and signs God performed to facilitate their freedom from slavery.
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Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus
to put him to death.
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.
Many people followed him, and he cured them all,
but he warned them not to make him known.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
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Commentary on Mt 12:14-21
After the Lord challenged Pharisaic Law and declared the “Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8), the Pharisees see Jesus as a threat to their hold over the people. Jesus backs away from their intended violence. In doing so, he fulfills the “Suffering Servant” role in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4). This passage reemphasizes his meekness (see Matthew 11:28-30), and extends his mission to the Gentiles.
“The [Pharisees’] need to ’take counsel’ together in secret, to make a laborious effort to harmonize a variety of minds and wills (συµβούλιον) who are united only by a common hatred, plainly manifests the complexities of the darkness in its frenzy to snuff out the simplicity of the light. How straightforwardly easy and direct, by comparison, Jesus' healing of the man! No, God does not have to ‘take counsel’ in order to do good! God simply follows the innermost law of his own nature:
Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has instructed him?
Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? (Isaiah 40:13-14)” [6]
"Matthew next shows how Jesus' withdrawal is not a setback but a part of God's Plan as foretold in the Old Testament prophecy. Matthew uses the formulaic statement, 'what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet,' in order to set up his longest fulfillment quotation from the Old Testament: a passage from the Servant Song of Isaiah 42:1-4.
"The opening line of this prophecy ̶ 'Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight' ̶ was already alluded to by the heavenly voice at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17) and will be repeated at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:5)." [7]
CCC: Mt 12:18-21 713
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Reflection:
What great solace this Gospel passage gives to anyone who has ever tried to bring another person to believe in God and Christ and has been rebuffed or rejected. What a great example it is to anyone who intends to go out the door today to try to bring Christ to the world by word or example. In this one short Gospel passage we are given both the method of our going and the attitude of our offered gift.
In this selection from St. Matthew, Jesus has just tried very hard to convince those faithful to the Law of Moses of his mission and identity. Those who should understand best what he has been sent to accomplish rejected him, and began to plot against him because he challenged their authority. Considering the power of the Lord, his reaction is remarkable. With a gesture of his will, he could have presented these pious doubters with miraculous evidence not seen since Moses invoked God to part the Red Sea. Yet he did not challenge further, nor did he become defensive. True to his mission, fulfilling the prophetic description of his attitude, he meekly continued to offer himself to those who could accept what he offered.
This is the example and attitude that must be ours. No matter how difficult it is, we can only offer the path to God’s grace and salvation. Just as we marvel that the Pharisees, who should have instantly recognized Jesus for who he was, rejected him, we are incredulous that those we attempt to show the face of Christ cannot or will not accept what he offers them.
The comparison is not really fair. Our example and words are a poor reflection of Jesus’ ministry and life. Yet the principle is the same. We who are called to be like him, offer ourselves to the world, and, if we are doing it close to right, the world will reject us. We should expect nothing more. And when this happens we should not be angry, disappointed, defensive, or sullen. We should rejoice.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture is "The Israelites after Crossing the Red Sea,” Hans Jordaens III, 1620s.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Corp., NJ © 2011, p. 207.
[6] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume II, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 2003 p. 79.
[7] The Gospel of Matthew, © 2010 Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, p. 167.
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