Exodus 12:37-42
Psalm 136:1, 23-24,
10-12, 13-15
Matthew 12:14-21
Exodus 12:37-42 “…This was a night of
vigil for the Lord, as he led them out of the land of Egypt…”
Psalm 136: 1, 10-15 & 23-24 “…Give
thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; Who remembered
us in our abjection,…And freed us from our foes, for his mercy endures forever…”
Matthew 12: 14-21 “…I shall place my
Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles...”
Let us Praise and Thank God in this moment, for today’s readings remind us
of how much he loves each of us, beyond our comprehension.
The readings in Exodus all week have been so full of drama. Although
it's ancient history I always enjoy reading the story of Moses leading God’s
people out of Egypt. I couldn’t help but think of how much compassion
and love God showed the Israelites in rescuing some six thousand people from
their slavery and poverty at the hands of Pharaoh. In our readings
today it says the people stayed in Egypt for 433 years. The people’s
demonstration of trust is also impressive in these readings. Having
spent all those generations of time in slavery, they were still taking a
leap of faith to follow Moses out of their everyday known existence into
the unknown. The signs God worked were impressive as well, slaying
the first born of all the people and animals, except those who had followed
God’s instructions to Moses and Aaron to put the blood of a year old unblemished
male lamb on their doorposts and lintels. During the night of
the slaughter, Pharaoh who previously would not set the Israelites free,
told Moses to leave and take all of the people and their animals with him,
clearing the way for the people to move, and move they did immediately.
So we see how God’s love for the Israelites, along with their trust in Him
delivered the people from their miserable captivity. In our own lives
can we see an example of how God might be leading us to our own personal
exodus, from an existence that is familiar and therefore comfortable, but
far less than ideal? As I thought about the level of trust the people
displayed, I could see how I might apply this lesson to a certain situation
in my own life. When you are on the edge of something really big, and
you know there is no way you can handle the situation on your own, or it
seems that what needs to be done only appears impossible right now; we need
to completely place our trust in God. I am reminded that by practicing
trusting God in the everyday hurdles, doing so allows us to cling to God
with all the bigger things too.
In today’s Gospel reading in Matthew we hear how the Pharisees are growing
more and more discontent with Jesus and are plotting to put him to death.
Jesus intends to leave, but lays his hands on a few sick people curing them,
but telling them not to tell anyone. And then the Prophet Isaiah, speaking
of Jesus is quoted: “…I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will
proclaim justice to the Gentiles…and in His name the Gentiles will hope.”
(Mt 12:18 &21) Yes, God loves us very
much and Jesus came that ALL might be free. From today’s Psalm we chime
in…“His mercy endures forever.”
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