The readings of this day speak of the Father’s righteousness in the Holy Church, His care for it and His presence in it.
The readings begin with the book of Exodus, in which the Lord explains to Moses the plan of salvation for His people, which comprehends and transcends the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart.
“So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.
Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.
And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear!” (Exodus 7)
The prophecy of Joel announces the coming of the Spirit on the fiftieth day after the revelation of salvation on Mount Zion
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.” (Joel 2)
In the book of Job, the righteousness of the Old Testament is depicted even before the law and the commandments.
“and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (Job 1)
And in Isaiah the Prophet, the Lord declares His protection, guarding the church and resisting thorns Himself.
“In that day sing to her, “A vineyard of red wine!
I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.
Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.” (Isaiah 27)
The Matins psalm proclaims the victory over the enemies that God gives to His children.
“I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies,” (Psalms 18)
The Matins gospel reveals the feast of divine love for the believers of the New Testament and the invitation of all, although the Jews refused, but entered the alien Nations and accepted the invitation of love and the wedding feast.
“Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’
But they all with one accord began to make excuses. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.” (Luke 14)
Pauline Epistle draws the picture of the New Testament church, filled with the righteousness of the Father.
“But you have not so learned Christ,
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4)
Catholic Epistle declares the atmosphere of the holy church filled with the righteousness of the Father and the fruit of righteousness in it.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3)
He presents the image of the one church in love and giving.
“And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many
people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11)
In the psalm of the liturgy, no matter how strong the enemies are, God saves us from them.
“He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me” (Psalms 18)
The Gospel of the liturgy closes with the church in the world amid the waves and winds, and the son of God declares His
authority over all the opposing forces and rebukes them with the word from His mouth.
“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4)
The summary of the readings
The plan of God’s salvation comprehends and transcends the hardness of the heart of the stubborn and resistant. Exodus
The revelation of salvation in the fullness of time and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. The book of Joel
The righteousness of the Old Testament is before the law and the commandments. The book of Job.
God guards and protects the Holy Church. The book of Isaiah.
God gives us victory over enemies, no matter how tough they are. The Matins and liturgy psalms
New Testament feast accepts the weak and the poor.
The Matins gospel
The behavior of the Holy Church and its peaceful atmosphere Pauline Epistle and the Catholic Epistle.
The righteousness of the church is proclaimed in love, one concern and giving. Praxis
The church in the world is amid the wind and waves and the son of God proclaims His divine authority. The Gospel of the liturgy.