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“Submersion of Pharaoh in the Red Sea” (detail)
by Andrea Previtali, 1515-20 |
Readings for Tuesday of the
Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem
Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Exodus 14:21—15:1
Moses stretched out his hand
over the sea,
and the LORD swept the sea
with a strong east wind throughout
the night
and so turned it into dry
land.
When the water was thus
divided,
the children of Israel
marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
with the water like a wall to
their right and to their left.
The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
all Pharaoh's horses and
chariots and charioteers went after them
right into the midst of the
sea.
In the night watch just
before dawn
the LORD cast through the
column of the fiery cloud
upon the Egyptian force a
glance that threw it into a panic;
and he so clogged their
chariot wheels
that they could hardly drive.
With that the Egyptians
sounded the retreat before Israel,
because the LORD was fighting
for them against the Egyptians.
Then the LORD told Moses,
"Stretch out your hand over the sea,
that the water may flow back
upon the Egyptians,
upon their chariots and their
charioteers."
So Moses stretched out his
hand over the sea,
and at dawn the sea flowed
back to its normal depth.
The Egyptians were fleeing
head on toward the sea,
when the LORD hurled them
into its midst.
As the water flowed back,
it covered the chariots and
the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army
that had followed the
children of Israel into the sea.
Not a single one of them
escaped.
But the children of Israel
had marched on dry land
through the midst of the sea,
with the water like a wall to
their right and to their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel on
that day
from the power of the
Egyptians.
When Israel saw the Egyptians
lying dead on the seashore
and beheld the great power that
the LORD
had shown against the
Egyptians,
they feared the LORD and
believed in him and in his servant Moses.
Then Moses and the children
of Israel sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for
he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast
into the sea.
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Commentary on Ex 14:21—15:1
This passage
continues the Exodus story with Moses opening a way through the sea for the
Israelites. When the Egyptians try to follow, God delays them, using the same
column (pillar of fire) that had been leading the Israelites, to confuse and
panic the armies in pursuit. In the end Moses closes the way through the sea
while Pharaoh’s army is still in the midst of the sea and no one survives. This wonder strengthens the faith of the
Israelites in God and in Moses. "See the goodness of God the Creator: if
you submit to his will and follow his Law, he will see to it that created
things cooperate with you, against their own nature if necessary" (Origen
"Homiliae In Exodum", 5,5).
CCC: Ex 15:1 2810
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Responsorial Psalm: Exodus 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17
R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered
himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger
the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like
a mound,
the flood waters congealed in
the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, "I
will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and
have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand
shall despoil them!"
R. Let us sing to the
Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea
covered them;
like lead they sank in the
mighty waters.
When you stretched out your
right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the
Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and
planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your
seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which
your hands established.
R. Let us sing to the
Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ex 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17
The canticle is a
victory anthem and continues the prayer of Moses. It gives thanks for the favor God has shown
to the people and marvels at his great power. "It is a hymn of praise and
thanksgiving which the three stages of the deliverance of Israel are
remembered--the prodigies of the Red Sea (vv. 4-10), [followed later by] the
triumphal pilgrimage in the desert (vv. 4-16) and the taking possession of the
land of Canaan (vv. 17-18)." [4]
CCC: Ex 15:1 2810
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Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was speaking to
the crowds,
his mother and his brothers
appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, "Your
mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with
you."
But he said in reply to the
one who told him,
"Who is my mother? Who
are my brothers?"
And stretching out his hand
toward his disciples, he said,
"Here are my mother and
my brothers.
For whoever does the will of
my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister,
and mother."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 12:46-50
In this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus emphasizes
the importance of the family of faith over the biological family. It is likely
a parallel to the situation found in Mark
3:21. It is important to note that the Catholic
Church holds that Mary bore only one child, Jesus. The reference in this
passage to “your brothers” (the word “brethren” is used in most other
translations) refers to kinsmen, other relatives of the Blessed Mother and St.
Joseph. Similarly, other scriptural references to Jesus’ relatives find this
same interpretation issue. The Aramaic term for brother/sister referred to
relationships within the extended family (see notes on Mark 3:31ff). In apocryphal
literature, specifically the History
of Joseph the Carpenter, it is indicated that Mary
was Joseph’s second wife, his first having died. From this union, the
document explains, Joseph had four sons and two daughters, Judas, Justus,
James, and Simon. The names of the two daughters were Assia and Lydia. This is
one more possibility driving the language of the Gospel.
In Galatians
1:19 we find: “But I did not see any other
of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord.” “James the brother of
the Lord: not one of the Twelve, but a brother of Jesus (see note on Mark
6:3). He played an important role in the Jerusalem
church (see note on Galatians
2:9), the leadership of which he took over from
Peter (Acts
12:17). Paul may have regarded James as an apostle.”
[5]
To further support this point, logic tells us that if Mary
had other biological children, Jesus would not have entrusted her to St. John
as he hung upon the cross. (John
19:26-27)
Jesus’ initial indication that the disciples are his family
is clarified by the statement: “whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother." Through his acceptance of the
will of God, Jesus provides a natural continuation of our adoptive status as
his brothers and sisters (Romans
8:29 ; 1 John
3:1).
CCC:
Mt 12:49 764,
2233
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Our adoption by Christ is an
amazing thing. We were created by God in
his own image. As such we enjoy the
world, which is also his creation, and have dominion over it. All these things are nice but when Christ
came he extended the greatest benefit of all.
Through baptism, which also has as one of its gifts the gift of the Holy
Spirit, we are adopted by God and given all of the rights privileges, and
responsibilities that go along with it.
As brothers and sisters of
Christ we share in the life he came to bring us. We share in the kingdom of God where Jesus
reigns as Lord for all eternity. We are
offered the life of inexplicable joy that comes as part of our adopted status,
ours to claim in faith, ours to keep in fidelity.
With that adoption comes purpose. Jesus calls us to go into the family
business. Part of being adopted means
taking up the responsibilities that go along with being part of the family of
God. Those responsibilities include
following the family code of conduct (we start with the Great Commandment and
apply that principle to all our actions).
We are also asked to gather at family meetings (Mass) so we can share
the family meal. We are reminded to have
regular talks with our Father (prayer) and to contribute to the upkeep of the
family home (Church).
Because we are truly adopted,
this is not really an analogy so there is no point at which it breaks
down. We are called today to remember
what it means to be a brother of sister of Christ. Our brother and Savior invites us to share
with him the joys and sorrows of God’s family.
We are called to act the part.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “Submersion of Pharaoh in the Red Sea” (detail) by Andrea
Previtali, 1515-20.
[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]
The Navarre Bible: “Pentateuch” Scepter Publishers,
Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 297.[5]
NAB footnote on Galatians 1:19.
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