Readings for Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 they are now leaving Egypt under Moses’ leadership. As they were instructed in the rules for Passover, the bread is unleavened and their parting is hurried.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 12:14-21
After challenging Pharisaic Law and declaring the “Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” the Pharisees now see Jesus as a threat to their hold over the people. Jesus backs away from this intended violence and in doing so fulfills the “Suffering Servant” role in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4). This passage re-emphasizes his meekness (see Matthew 11:28-30) and extends his mission to the gentiles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 passage we are given both the method of our going and the attitude of our offered gift.
In this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, 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 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] ALTRE
[2] The picture is” The Israelites after Crossing the Red Sea” Hans Jordaens III, 1620s
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 they are now leaving Egypt under Moses’ leadership. As they were instructed in the rules for Passover, the bread is unleavened and their parting is hurried.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 12:14-21
After challenging Pharisaic Law and declaring the “Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” the Pharisees now see Jesus as a threat to their hold over the people. Jesus backs away from this intended violence and in doing so fulfills the “Suffering Servant” role in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4). This passage re-emphasizes his meekness (see Matthew 11:28-30) and extends his mission to the gentiles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 passage we are given both the method of our going and the attitude of our offered gift.
In this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, 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 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] ALTRE
[2] The picture is” The Israelites after Crossing the Red Sea” Hans Jordaens III, 1620s
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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