Remember Mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to attend to the prompting of the Spirit as we try to resolve our spiritual practice and our call to support the needs of all people with mercy.

Mercy and Action

In the reading from the Book of Exodus, the First Passover is instituted.

* [12:1–20] This section, which interrupts the narrative of the exodus, contains later legislation concerning the celebration of Passover.

* [12:2] As if to affirm victory over Pharaoh and sovereignty over the Israelites, the Lord proclaims a new calendar for Israel. This month: Abib, the month of “ripe grain.” Cf. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Dt 16:1. It occurred near the vernal equinox, March–April. Later it was known by the Babylonian name of Nisan. Cf. Neh 2:1; Est 3:7.

* [12:4] The lamb’s cost: some render the Hebrew, “reckon for the lamb the number of persons required to eat it.” Cf. v. 10. (Exodus, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 116 is thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness.

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' disciples are criticized for plucking grain on the Sabbath.

* [12:1–14] Matthew here returns to the Marcan order that he left in Mt 9:18. The two stories depend on Mk 2:23–28; 3:1–6, respectively, and are the only places in either gospel that deal explicitly with Jesus’ attitude toward sabbath observance.

* [12:1–2] The picking of the heads of grain is here equated with reaping, which was forbidden on the sabbath (Ex 34:21).

* [12:3–4] See 1 Sm 21:2–7. In the Marcan parallel (Mk 2:25–26) the high priest is called Abiathar, although in 1 Samuel this action is attributed to Ahimelech. The Old Testament story is not about a violation of the sabbath rest; its pertinence to this dispute is that a violation of the law was permissible because of David’s men being without food.

* [12:5–6] This and the following argument (Mt 12:7) are peculiar to Matthew. The temple service seems to be the changing of the showbread on the sabbath (Lv 24:8) and the doubling on the sabbath of the usual daily holocausts (Nm 28:9–10). The argument is that the law itself requires work that breaks the sabbath rest, because of the higher duty of temple service. If temple duties outweigh the sabbath law, how much more does the presence of Jesus, with his proclamation of the kingdom (something greater than the temple), justify the conduct of his disciples. (Matthew, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Purcell comments that with the shrinking of the world, through the proliferation of communication media and cultural and economic interactions, all faith traditions have both opportunities and challenges – how do others answer these common questions and how should (or should not) my traditions respond to the practices, thoughts, philosophies and cultures of the others we encounter.  Believers face the dichotomy that disturbed both Tevye and the Pharisees – how to maintain faithful adherence to personal faith traditions, when secular and other forces pull people in different directions.

My prayer today is for the grace to be open to the wisdom of other faith traditions, and how those traditions are similar to and different than my own, to learn what they offer in helping me understand my own relationship with my Creator, and for the strength to keep true to the important and not to worry about the small things. (Purcell, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The Seventh Day,” from the early Greek fathers, attributed to Eusebius of Alexandria (5th century AD).

"Now every week has seven days. Six of these God has given to us for work, and one for prayer, rest, and making reparation for our sins, so that on the Lord's Day we may atone to God for any sins we have committed on the other six days. Therefore, arrive early at the church of God; draw near to the Lord and confess your sins to him, repenting in prayer and with a contrite heart. Attend the holy and divine liturgy; finish your prayer and do not leave before the dismissal. Contemplate your master as he is broken and distributed, yet not consumed. If you have a clear conscience, go forward and partake of the body and blood of the Lord." (excerpt from SERMON 6, 1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 11:10–12:14 comments that this description of a vigilant, on-the-go meal can serve as a helpful symbol of the Christian life. Like the Israelites, we are pilgrims journeying toward our true homeland. So we need to be ready to follow the Lord whenever and wherever he leads. And as it was for them, so for us there are some things we need to do and there are some things God does for us.

As for God’s part, he has been at work from the beginning. He has already saved us and made us his own. He continues to teach us and lead us by his Spirit. He gives himself to us as our unleavened bread and Passover lamb in the Eucharist. He also feeds us every day in his word, in prayer, and through our brothers and sisters in Christ. In short, he provides everything we need so that we are ready to hear him calling us when the time comes.

You are on a journey to an eternal banquet—and God himself is leading you!

“Here I am, Lord! I’m ready to go wherever you lead me.” (Meditation on Exodus 11:10–12:14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes how God is preparing to force Pharaoh’s hand to let the Israelites leave Egypt. The spiritual practice of Passover is compared to Eucharist and the entering into eternity to “re-present” the Presence of God. Friar Jude notes how Jesus as the Son of Man asserts lose and bind authority over the interpretation of the Law.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes how In Jesus’ painful death, theologian Kwok Pui Lan experiences God’s solidarity with the suffering of Asian women. For Richard Rohr, the “bias from the bottom” is a way of following God and living life from the side of suffering.

Instead of legitimating what we are already doing, liberation theology simply tries to read the text from the side of the pain. That’s all. For me, that is the icon of Jesus—to read not from the side of power, but from the side of pain. Who has the pain? Where is the pain? As many have said, Jesus is on both sides of every war. The Germans in the First World War had their “Gott mit uns” [God with us] on their belt buckles, but God is in the foxholes of both sides. God is with all people crying out in their pain. Doesn’t that leave us feeling helpless? It’s not an exclusive god of our group anymore; it’s the universal God of all the earth, of all peoples. But it’s only possible to think this way when we move to the level of wisdom, which is the level of liberation. We don’t have time for group-centric religion anymore. There is too much suffering. [2] (Rohr, 2022)

We receive life and spiritual experience in our religious ceremonies and the Spirit activates mercy and compassion to live as followers of Christ.

References

Exodus, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/12 

Matthew, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12 

Meditation on Exodus 11:10–12:14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/21/738412/ 

Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12 

Purcell, T. (2023, July 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072123.html 

Rohr, R. (2022, August 30). God Is on the Side of Pain. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-is-on-the-side-of-pain-2023-07-21/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul21 

Decision for Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary challenge us to react, guided by the Spirit, to the negative response we may encounter to the Way of Jesus.

Division and Life

In the reading from the Book of Exodus the Israelites are oppressed in Egypt.

* [1:8] Who knew nothing of Joseph: the nuance intended by the Hebrew verb “know” here goes beyond precise determination. The idea may be not simply that a new king came to power who had not heard of Joseph but that this king ignored the services that Joseph had rendered to Egypt, repudiating the special relationship that existed between Joseph and his predecessor on the throne.

* [1:10] Increase: Pharaoh’s actions thereby immediately pit him against God’s will for the Israelites to multiply; see note on v. 7 above.

* [1:11] Pharaoh: not a personal name, but a title common to all the kings of Egypt.

* [1:14] Mortar: either the wet clay with which the bricks were made, as in Na 3:14, or the cement used between the bricks in building, as in Gn 11:3. (Exodus, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 124 offers thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance.

* [Psalm 124] A thanksgiving which teaches that Israel’s very existence is owed to God who rescues them. In the first part Israel’s enemies are compared to the mythic sea dragon (Ps 124:2b–3a; cf. Jer 51:34) and Flood (Ps 124:3b–5; cf. Is 51:9–10). The Psalm heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation. Israel is a bird freed from the trapper’s snare (Ps 124:6–8)—freed originally from Pharaoh and now from the current danger. (Psalms, PSALM 124, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, not Peace, but a Sword follows Jesus, a cause of Division.

* [10:32–33] In the Q parallel (Lk 12:8–9), the Son of Man will acknowledge those who have acknowledged Jesus, and those who deny him will be denied (by the Son of Man) before the angels of God at the judgment. Here Jesus and the Son of Man are identified, and the acknowledgment or denial will be before his heavenly Father.

* [10:38] The first mention of the cross in Matthew, explicitly that of the disciple, but implicitly that of Jesus (and follow after me). Crucifixion was a form of capital punishment used by the Romans for offenders who were not Roman citizens.

* [10:39] One who denies Jesus in order to save one’s earthly life will be condemned to everlasting destruction; loss of earthly life for Jesus’ sake will be rewarded by everlasting life in the kingdom.

* [10:40–42] All who receive the disciples of Jesus receive him, and God who sent him, and will be rewarded accordingly.

* [10:41] A prophet: one who speaks in the name of God; here, the Christian prophets who proclaim the gospel. Righteous man: since righteousness is demanded of all the disciples, it is difficult to take the righteous man of this verse and one of these little ones (Mt 10:42) as indicating different groups within the followers of Jesus. Probably all three designations are used here of Christian missionaries as such. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Andy Alexander, S.J. (2010) asks if the mystery when we call “good news” is that the way to find ourselves, that is, to come to become fully ourselves, is to lose our life – to let go, to surrender, to place our trust in God.

Lord Jesus, as you lay out this way to greater life before me, you stir my heart to desire greater freedom and greater love.  Please give me what I need to live this way, to love this way.  Calm my fears, heal the deep hurts and old wounds.  Grant that I might grow in your grace and have the ongoing desire to practice loving more freely today. (Alexander, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “How peace requires a sword,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

"What sort of peace is it that Jesus asks them to pronounce upon entering each house? And what kind of peace is it of which the angels sing, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace'? And if Jesus came not to bring peace, why did all the prophets publish peace as good news? Because this more than anything is peace: when the disease is removed. This is peace: when the cancer is cut away. Only with such radical surgery is it possible for heaven to be reunited to earth. Only in this way does the physician preserve the healthy tissue of the body. The incurable part must be amputated. Only in this way does the military commander preserve the peace: by cutting off those in rebellion. Thus it was also in the case of the tower of Babel, that their evil peace was ended by their good discord. Peace therefore was accomplished. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 35.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1 comments that any kind of division like this is tragic, and yet God has given every human being the freedom to accept or reject him. He loves each one of us beyond our comprehension, but he won’t force his love on anyone. For a variety of reasons, many people are unable to accept God’s personal love for them or the blessings that come with being one with Jesus. We all want every person to come to know the Lord. But we must also expect at times to experience pushback, conflict, or even division when we try to share our faith.

Jesus knew that his coming would cause division and conflict. At the same time, he is the only One who can bring true peace and unity. So let’s strive to be Christ to those who have not yet accepted the gospel but who still long for the love that only he can give. Let’s take the advice of St. Paul and “put on . . . heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). May the witness of Jesus’ life in us be the catalyst that sparks faith in our loved ones—and in everyone we will encounter today!

“Jesus, Prince of Peace, help me reflect your love and compassion to everyone who is far from you.” (Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that Exodus introduces a new king who knew nothing of Joseph and feared the growth of Semitic people in Egypt as a fifth column. The name of Pharaoh is not mentioned in Exodus as he is portrayed as a nobody. Friar Jude reminds us to preach in word and deed even as our attempts to live in integrity will be opposed as we take up the Cross.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that one of the Bible’s persistent themes is how God chooses the rejected, the outsider, and the unlikely for grace and divine purpose. Rejected sons, barren women, sinners, lepers, or outsiders are always the ones chosen by God. It’s rather obvious when pointed out to us. In every case, we are presented with some form of powerlessness—and from that situation God creates a new kind of power. This is the constant pattern found hidden in plain sight. [1]

In case after case, the victim becomes the real victor, leading philosopher René Girard (1923–2015) to speak of the “privileged position of the most victimized victim” as the absolutely unique and revolutionary perspective of the Gospels. [4] Without it, we are hardly prepared to understand the “folly of the cross” of Jesus. Without this bias from the bottom, religion ends up defending propriety instead of human pain, the status quo instead of the suffering masses, triumphalism instead of truth, clerical privilege instead of charity and compassion. And this from the Christianity that was once “turning the whole world upside down” (Acts 17:6). (Rohr, 2023)

We ponder the historic rejection of the Plan of God as we navigate our position with those close to us with compassion and care.

References

Alexander, A. (2023, July 17). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071723.html 

Exodus, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/1?8 

Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10? 

Meditation on Matthew 10:34–11:1. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/17/735347/ 

Psalms, PSALM 124. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, July 17). Stories from the Bottom — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/stories-from-the-bottom-2023-07-17/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul17