(Optional
Memorial for Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr) Or
(Optional Memorial
of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
On
Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial
of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.[1] Mass texts may
be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary. (USCCB recommends: #26 The Blessed Virgin Mary, Image
and Mother of the Church, II)
 |
| ”The Israelites after Crossing the Red Sea,” Hans Jordaens III, 1620s |
Reading 1: Exodus 12:37-42
The children of Israel
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
they baked it into unleavened
loaves.
They had rushed out of Egypt
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
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
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."
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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
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
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
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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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 re-emphasizes his meekness (see Matthew 11:28-30), and extends
his mission to the gentiles.
"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)." [5]
CCC: Mt 12:18-21 713
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
[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]
The Gospel of Matthew, © 2010 Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri, Baker Academic,
Grand Rapids, MI, p. 167.
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