Friday of 15th week, July 20, 2007

Scripture: Exodus 11:10. 12:1-14. Psalm 116:12-18. Matthew 12:1-8.
Lectionary # 393:

Today's readings led me to pause and reflect on two great events in
salvation history that actually complement each other because of the
similarities--the Passover Event which liberates Israel from the oppression
and slavery in Egypt and the Passion-Death-Resurrection Mysteries of Jesus
that redeem and set free the people who believe in him as the Son of God.
Both of these events are celebrated today in a liturgical and prayerful
mode. The celebration of the Passover recalls all that is being said in
today's selection and becomes the story of each family at Passover time
when it is relived and retold in the home. Often visitors join the family
in the celebration just as I did when I was in Jerusalem many years ago.
The second reading from the Gospel led me to think of both the Eucharist
because of the plucking of the wheat from the fields as well as the need
for all of us to have the leisure of the Sabbath or Sunday to pray, relax,
and reflect on the good things God has done for us. Thinking about the
Passover story and the Eucharist according to our different faiths will be
a part of the Sabbath or Sunday way of prayer and reflection if we turn to
the book of Exodus. The preparations that are mandated for the celebration
of the Passover led the Israelites into the desert but on the road to the
Land (Ha Aretz) promised by God. In the Passover a lamb was sacrificed and
unleavened bread was eaten for an octave of days. The Israelites had to do
things in a hurry to escape from Pharaoh and certain rituals with the blood
from the sacrificed lamb led to their being unharmed while the Egyptians
would lose their first born in both human and animal realms. In the
Gospels it is Jesus who is presented as the Paschal Lamb--especially in
John and who redeems and saves all peoples according to the preaching done
by Jesus's apostles. Today's pericope talks about the disciples of Jesus
picking grain on the Sabbath with Jesus then exonerating them from a strict
interpretation of the Torah. He does so from the Hebrew Bible as well as
making a statement about his having authority over the Sabbath. Such
statements helped lead Jesus into his own sufferings, death, and
resurrection or the Paschal Mysteries. These are renewed each day through
the celebration of the Eucharist which recalls these events---"Christ has
died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." The Psalm 116 is beautiful
in its imagery and brings in the "cup of salvation" which made me think
both of the Pesach Event as well as the Eucharist since both feature a cup
filled with wine in their celebration. Both Sabbath, Sunday, and Passover
call us to make haste slowly (Festina lente) with God through reflection
time and leisure time this coming weekend. Amen.