St. Apollinarius, bishop & martyr

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Exodus 14:21-15:1

 Moses stretched his hand

Over the sea and Yahweh made a strong east wind blow all night and dry up the sea. The waters divided    and the sons of Israel went on dry ground through the middle of the sea, with the waters forming a wall to their right and to their left.   The Egyptians followed them and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and horsemen moved forward in the middle of the sea.

 It happened that in the morning watch, Yahweh in the pillar of cloud and fire, looked towards the Egyptian camp and threw it into confusion.   He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly move. Then the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites for Yah­weh is fighting for them against Egypt.”

 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch your hand over the sea and let the waters come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and horse­men.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak the sea returned to its place. As the Egyptians tried to flee, Yahweh swept them into the sea.

The waters flowed back and engulfed the chariots and horsemen of the whole army of Pharaoh that had followed Israel into the sea. Not one of them escaped. As for the Israelites they went forward on dry ground in the middle of the sea, the waters forming a wall on their right and their left.

 On that day Yahweh delivered Israel from the power of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore.   They understood what wonders Yahweh had done for them against Egypt, and the people feared Yahweh. They believed in Yahweh and in Moses, his servant.  Then Moses and the people sang this song to Yahweh: I will sing to Yahweh, the glorious one, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.  

 

Ex 15:8-9, 10 & 12, 17

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthew 12:46-50

 While Jesus was still talking to the peo­ple, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him and they waited outside.  So someone said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are just outside; they want to speak with you.”

 Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”   Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers.  Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.

 

Gospel Reflection：

In this extraordinary passage, we catch a glimpse Jesus’ dynamics with His family. first, His mother and most of His relatives do not follow Him around in His ministry. They do not try to amplify their own influence by associating with their more famous relative.

They even have to seek audience with Him because of the many people occupying Jesus’ time. Hence the request to see Him is conveyed. What is surprising is Jesus’ answer. It seemed at first glance that He downplays the importance of His mother and relatives.

But on deeper reading of he passage we come to realize that He points not to blood relations that binds Him with His mother and relatives. it is their deep capacity to listen and follow God’s word. Hence Mary and His brothers and sisters are the first among His extensive family because they are the hearers and doers of God’s word par excellence.