Today’s Readings – Saturday of Week 15 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Exodus 12:37-42

Yesterday’s reading about the celebration of the Passover is followed by instructions on the feast of Unleavened Bread and other instructions on the observance of the Passover. After this, the book then goes back to the narrative and, considering its climactic role, gives a rather brief account of the Tenth and most terrible Plague, the killing of all the first-born Egyptian children and animals. However, Pharaoh has now had enough and ordered Moses and Aaron to leave with all their people, their herds and their possessions.

Today’s passage describes the beginning of the long journey out of Egypt to the Promised Land by way of Mount Sinai. The journey began in the city of Rameses in the very north of Egypt, where the Hebrews had been employ … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Friday of Week 15 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Exodus 11:10—12:14

We have skipped several chapters of Exodus to come to today’s reading. The sufferings of the Hebrews became intolerable and eventually God sent what we call the Ten Plagues on Egypt in order to persuade the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave. Afte … Continue