July 18, Lectionary # 395

Scripture: Lectionary # 395: Exodus 14:5.18. Resp. Exodus 15:1-2,3-4,5-6.
Matthew 12: 38-42:

God's greatest act of liberation for the Israelites is the focus of our
first reading from the great event in the Book of Exodus (which means " a
way out"). By immediately having the Song of Miriam, the sister of Moses,
as our responsorial hymn, we enter into the "pathos" as well as the "ethos"
of this great narrative. Our emotions and joy in God's love for the people
of Israel join theirs as they celebrate the victory of God over the
oppressors. Our own hearts are easily moved when appropriate songs for a
celebration are chosen and this is what we should feel as we sing our
Psalm Response this day taken directly from Exodus.

The Israelites rejoice and praise God in their songs and dancing with the
accompaning musical instruments as Miriam leads them to praise and exalt in
God who brought about such good things for the people, the Israelites. We
recall how even today this is celebrated at the Passover Meal and how at
weddings certain songs bring more joy to the couple as they hear beautiful
melodies attachted to the Canticle of Canticle. The latter bring out the
beauty of the love of a man and woman on the occasion of their wedding.
These poetic expressions were probably sung at social gatherings or even
what may have been the equivalent of a sports bar in those days. Or if you
prefer, a beer garden!

The Exodus song is however directly focused on the greatest of God's acts
for his people Israel. We join in this song which is the inspired words of
God as well as those of Miriam or Moses. We are helped by the music that
our cantors or choir put to these responses and see how important good
music is to a celebration of the Word of God in a Euchrist.

We can appreciate the prose of the first reading by having our hearts
stirred by the response and its words. The first is more the historical
memory and narrative of the Exodus, the song is the celebration of this
great act of God among God's chosen people. We join today in the response:
"Let us sing to the Lord, he has covered himself in glory!" Amen.