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Saint Matthew 12:38-42.

by Daily Gospel | Source: Daily Gospel

Book of Exodus 14:5-18.

When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them. "What have we done!" they exclaimed. "Why, we have released Israel from our service!"

So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiers--
six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all.

So obstinate had the LORD made Pharaoh that he pursued the Israelites even while they were marching away in triumph.

The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaoh's whole army, his horses, chariots and charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Pharaoh was already near when the Israelites looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the LORD.

And they complained to Moses, "Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt?

Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, 'Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians'? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert."
But Moses answered the people, "Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.
The LORD himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.
And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land.

But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers.
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers."

Book of Exodus 15:1-2.3-4.5-6.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him.
The LORD is a warrior, LORD is his name!
Pharaoh's chariots and army he hurled into the sea; the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea.
The flood waters covered them, they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O LORD, magnificent in power, your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12:38-42.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.

At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.


Commentary of the day
Rupert of Deutz (c.1075-1130), Benedictine monk
On the Trinity and all its works, 42, 4 ; PL 167, 1130

"There is something greater than Solomon here"

Having joined in collusion with her, the prophet Nathan, together with Bathsheba, petitioned for their plan before the old man, the wise king David, now close to death (1Kgs 1). Then it was that Solomon, whose name means «Lord of peace», received the royal anointing. Then all the people went up after him; the crowd played on trumpets and gave itself up to such great rejoicing that the noise of it caused the earth to shake, for the king had declared: «Solomon is the one whom I designate as ruler over Israel and Judah» (vv. 35.40). Now, without question, this enthronement prefigured the mystery of which Daniel speaks: «While the court was convened and the books were opened... I saw one like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, he received dominion, glory and kingship» (Dn 7,10.13-14).

Thus it was at a prophet's initiative that Solomon was made king, just as it was in fulfilling the prophecies according to their spiritual sense that Christ, the Son of God, was acknowledged King of Peace, King of the Father's glory, drawing all things to himself. Solomon became king while his father was still alive just as Christ was inaugurated king by God the Father, who cannot die. Indeed, there is no doubt that he made him king and «heir of all things» (Heb 1,2) who does not die and will not die for ever, and – marvellous and unprecedented event – Christ, who is heir of a Father who lives for ever and can never die and who himself died once for all, came back to life and will no longer know death for ever.

Then Solomon «mounted the king's mule» (1Kgs 1,38). But better still, it is on his Father's throne, that is to say the whole Church..., «far above every principality, authority, power and dominion» (Eph 1,21) that Christ now sits «at the right hand of the Majesty on high» (Heb 1,3). This is why the great multitude of people goes up after him with songs and rejoicing and the earth trembles at their shouts. And we, too, have heard the great joy of those who made this glory known, that is to say the gladness of the apostles as they spoke in the languages of people everywhere (Acts 2), for «their words have gone out through all the earth and their message to the ends of the world» (Ps 19[18],5).