Daily Retreat 07/21/07
2007 Jul 21 Sat/ BVM/ Lawrence of Brindisi, p, r, dr
Ex 12:37-42/ Ps 135(136):1 and 23-24. 10-12. 13-15/ Mt 12:14-21
From today’s readings:“The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones.... Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.... The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.”
Passover to the Last Supper
Genesis 46:27 specifies that there was a total of 70 people in Jacob’s extended family that had migrated to Egypt at the time of Joseph. Four hundred and thirty years later, even in spite of Pharaoh’s subjugation and cruel birth control policy, the number of Israelites had swelled considerably; according to Exodus 12:37, “The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones.” God had clearly blessed His chosen people, enabling them to flourish and “be fruitful and multiply,” even in spite of the Egyptian oppression!
Chapter Twelve outlines the rite of Passover, and explains how this Jewish feast was a perpetual memorial of that night of the dreadful tenth plague, when the angel of death struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians, but passed over the homes of the Israelites in preparation for their liberation from the slavery of Egypt. As we know, it was no accident that Jesus celebrated His Last Supper during the Passover feast, for His New Covenant was established to liberate all from the death and slavery of sin. So, having read Chapter Twelve of Exodus, it would be very appropriate to read the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper (especially Luke 22), to note how Jesus fulfills and supersedes the old Passover rite with the new rite of the Last Supper.
Ex 12:37-42/ Ps 135(136):1 and 23-24. 10-12. 13-15/ Mt 12:14-21
From today’s readings:“The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones.... Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.... The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.”
Passover to the Last Supper
Genesis 46:27 specifies that there was a total of 70 people in Jacob’s extended family that had migrated to Egypt at the time of Joseph. Four hundred and thirty years later, even in spite of Pharaoh’s subjugation and cruel birth control policy, the number of Israelites had swelled considerably; according to Exodus 12:37, “The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones.” God had clearly blessed His chosen people, enabling them to flourish and “be fruitful and multiply,” even in spite of the Egyptian oppression!
Chapter Twelve outlines the rite of Passover, and explains how this Jewish feast was a perpetual memorial of that night of the dreadful tenth plague, when the angel of death struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians, but passed over the homes of the Israelites in preparation for their liberation from the slavery of Egypt. As we know, it was no accident that Jesus celebrated His Last Supper during the Passover feast, for His New Covenant was established to liberate all from the death and slavery of sin. So, having read Chapter Twelve of Exodus, it would be very appropriate to read the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper (especially Luke 22), to note how Jesus fulfills and supersedes the old Passover rite with the new rite of the Last Supper.
posted by FrPitstick | 7/20/2007
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