Tom's Wrap Up Talk for Exodus 12-15

Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sunday fail to see the historical connections to the supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass as “ Heaven on Earth”, explaining that what we celebrate on earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy.
For early Christians, the key to understanding the mysteries of the Mass began with the account of the Passover in the Book of Exodus and ended with the Book of Revelation. And so the Passover, with its symbolism, becomes a necessary starting point, not only for the Sacrificial worship of the Jewish Temple but for the Gift of Himself as Redeeming Lamb that Jesus would institute at the Last Supper.
Beginning most probably as a shepherd’s feast in the springtime, Passover has always been associated with lambs. The Spring is when lambs are born and they begin their migration to summer pastures. It was customary in those days to sacrifice a newborn lamb for the protection and fertility of the flocks.
Keep this in mind because Passover connected with the Exodus and forever after will involve a victim, a sacrifice of atonement and deliverance. This was true in the time of Moses and is still true when we speak of Jesus and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Notice, I said, “Holy Sacrifice” of the Mass.
The victim of course would be the unblemished lamb – “the perfect sacrifice” because it is offered to God. Eucharistic Prayer 1 (The Roman Canon) says: “and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice : the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.” In the Exodus, the perfect sacrifice would be not only the blood of the lamb but the first born of the Egyptians both signified innocence lost to sin.
The meal and the many rituals that went with it, of course was a necessary part of the Passover. On that first Passover, the unleavened bread, sometimes called “the bread of haste” , the bitter herbs of poverty and the dress and posture of the participants were given by God as the essential elements of all future Passovers to follow. The highlight of any Passover meal, was eating the lamb – the partaking of the victim – no Passover could be consummated without it.
It is for this reason, that Jesus chose the Passover Supper (or Seder) to institute the Holy Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood and the first Mass. The Passover involves the sacrifice of a perfect victim to effect deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. At the Last Supper, Jesus offers himself as victim (“ Take this and eat…. this is my body.”) given for the atonement of our sins. Like the Passover of Exodus, Jesus tells his Apostles that they must consume the victim (Himself) so that we may join our sacrifice to his and BOTH become willing offerings to the Father. Jesus now gives the Jewish Passover it’s real and definitive meaning. He defines it for all who have the eyes of Faith in a new way – the New Covenant.
As the Passover initiates the commemoration of the Exodus for all time, so the Crossing of the Red Sea bears traces of the great Jewish traditions. All of the elements in this account – the confluence of seemingly natural events, the intervention of the angel, the waters which swallow up pharaoh and his charioteers produce really an epic, which will be written forever in the hearts of the Jewish people up until this very day. The end result, the commentators say is the very real conviction on the part of the Hebrew people that it was God who brought about the deliverance of His people. The death of the first-born, extraordinary as it is, is seen as the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and forced pharaoh’s hand. Both Jewish and Christian commentators, however, view the Crossing of the Red Sea, as the definitive display of God’s power, might and faithfulness. It combined all of those elements, which we just mentioned as well giving the people absolute faith in the authority of God and Moses.
From this point onward, Moses assumes the role of mediator between God and Man. This if we take the time to stop and think about it, is quite remarkable. Although God made covenants throughout history – with Abraham, Noah etc, Moses becomes God’s vicar or representative as the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth. Being God’s representative implies not just being a messenger – but it implies a responsibility. God is telling Moses, that he, Moses is responsible for the actions and care of the Hebrew people. He is their shepherd. Soon, God will give to his shepherd, Moses the guidelines, which he will use to lead his flock – the Ten Commandments. Moses’ role as mediator or shepherd prefigures Jesus’ role as the Mediator between God and Man. As the Hebrews followed Moses through the wilderness, so too are we expected to follow Christ through the wilderness of this life to union with God. Blessed Jose Maria Escriva writes; “following Jesus on his way, you have understood what Our Lord was asking from you and you have decided to accompany him on his way.” (footnote: Navarre pg. 302). God tells Moses that now he and the Hebrew people must assume responsibility for their own salvation. It must be a cooperative effort between Man and God’s grace. God is depicted in military language in Chapter 14. It is done to show God’s greatest attribute – his Omnipotence (power) and that he can deliver us from any danger. Now, we must use the tools he will give us – the merits of the death of his Son on the Cross to accomplish this. From the time of the Crossing of the Red Sea, God makes us partners in his plan of Salvation. Moses will be the prototype for many shepherds to follow up until the time of Jesus, The Eternal Shepherd, who will appear at the fullness of time to finally lead us home.

TPA/10/28/09