Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

“Moses with the Ten Commandments”
by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648

Readings for Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary:[3]
 
Reading 1: Exodus 34:29-35
 
As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD.
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Commentary on Ex 34:29-35
 
Moses returns a second time (see Exodus 32:19) bearing the tablets of the Law to his charges, the children of Israel whom he has led out of Egypt. The startling change in Moses' appearance (“the skin of Moses’ face was radiant”) will later be remembered as Jesus is transfigured in front of his disciples (Matthew 17:1-9, Luke 9:28b-36, and Mark 9:1-8). The episode concludes with Moses veiling his face. “St. Paul sees in this a symbol of the failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah: the true spiritual meaning of the writings of Moses and the prophets is still veiled from the unbelieving Jews. Cf 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.” [4]
 
CCC: Ex 34:29 2058
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 9
 
R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
 
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
 
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
 
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
 
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
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Commentary on Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9
 
This psalm of praise and thanksgiving holds up the traditions of Moses and Aaron. The praise and respect given to the Law of Moses extolled here stands between Paul’s assertion that the New Covenant superseded the covenant of Moses and Jesus' assurance that the Law of Moses stands firm. The psalmist recalls the great boon given to the Children of Israel as God gave the Law to Moses on the holy mountain.
 
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GOSPEL: Matthew 13:44-46
 
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”
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Commentary on Mt 13:44-46
 
The parable of the buried treasure and the parable of the pearl have the same point. One who understands the Kingdom of Heaven and sees its worth joyfully places obtaining that promise before all else. It is the primacy of Christ’s teaching that guides the disciple in all things. While these two parables have generally the same meaning, it is interesting to note they have some subtle differences. The parable of the hidden treasure which is found by accident refers to an abundance of gifts.  The parable of the pearl sought out through diligence refers to the beauty of the Kingdom of God.

“Anyone who understands the Kingdom which Christ proposes realizes that it is worth staking everything to obtain it […]. The Kingdom of heaven is difficult to win.  No one can be sure of achieving it, but the humble cry of the repentant man can open wide its doors” (St. Josemaria Escriva, Christ Is Passing By, 180) [5]

CCC: Mt 13:44-45 546
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Reflection:
 
We reflect today on the outward signs of inner conversion.  In the first reading today we hear how Moses, after having a close encounter of the holiest kind, came down the mountain and “he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant.”  It was as if he had stepped across the threshold and had entered the Kingdom of God.  From that point, the light of his spirit burst out and his physical appearance to those who knew him changed.
 
So remarkable was this change that his friends asked him to veil his face so they would not see it.  Why would they ask such a thing?  It could have been because they were afraid that by looking upon one who had been so thoroughly converted by God they might die, which is what they thought would happen if they ever saw God, face to face. 
 
Their fear could also have been because they recognized their own sinfulness.  Like placing a poor copy of a beautiful painting next to the original, the contrast became so apparent that they could not accept their own flaws.  As a result, they asked Moses to cover himself so he would not shame them.
 
Faith and conversion have that effect.  Internal conversion manifests itself externally.  It is something we must all remember.  A wise person once said, “The person who can remain calm in the face of a heated argument has already won.”  This true statement has a side effect.  The person who cannot remain calm in the face of an emotional argument will become even more incensed and irrational in the face of that calm.  The same is true of the outward peace of conversion in the face of the enemy.  That wondrous peace of Christ can stir up resentment and mistrust in those who do not understand it.  I will quote St. Augustine who famously said: “Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.” It is something we must be at least aware of because resentment can blindside us if we are not aware that our inner peace has an exterior affect.
 
Nonetheless, today we pray for that complete conversion that will cause us to glow with the light of our spirit.  May all who encounter us see that light and be comforted by it.
 
Pax

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[1] The picture is “Moses with the Ten Commandments” by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] 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.
[4] NAB footnote on Exodus 34:33.
[5] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts” Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p.136.