Monday of the
Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Exodus 1:8-14.22; Matthew 10:34-11:1)
The word genocide
catches people attention. Since the Nazis killed over six millions Jews in an
attempted genocide during World War II, nations react with concern when the
claim is made. Three years ago, for
example, spokespersons for Christians in Iraq were able to win U.S. support for
the beleaguered group by showing how ISIS was attempting genocide against it. In the first reading today the Egyptians have
genocide in mind as they deal with the Israelites.
The conditions for genocide are rife. The Israelites, once no more than an extended
family, have become a numerous and prosperous nation. The ruling Egyptian kingdom views them as a
potential threat to their rule. The
overlords try to wear the Israelites down with increased work, but added labor
seems to make the Israelites more industrious.
As a final solution to the threat, the Egyptian pharaoh orders the death
of all Israelite boys. The girls would
be married to Egyptians and their offspring assimilated in the dominant
culture.
Pharaoh’s plan, of course, fails and the Israelites are
led out of Egypt to the desert where they are formed as God’s chosen
people. The saga clues us on how to deal
with oppression. We are not to give into
evil but to maintain our noblest values.
As Jesus shows in today’s gospel, we are to honor those who bear the
word of God and cherish that word as the source of our hope in trial.
