15th Week, Monday, July 14: St Kateri Tekakwitha
Exodus 1:8-14, 22 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1
Joseph is forgotten; The Israelites became slaves.
The Egyptian site of Tanis has been identified, almost beyond doubt, as the site of the city of Rameses, mentioned in today's reading. Likewise, a stone carving of Rameses Il confirms the report of how this city was built. It reads: "He built the city of Rameses with Asiatic Semitic slaves."
Finally, the University Museum has on display an ancient Egyptian tomb painting showing slaves hard at work making bricks. In his novel Moses, Shalom Asch described the plight of Hebrew slaves this way: "Their bodies . , wetted by the sweat of anguish and labor, glistened like copper. Their faces were dumb and careworn They did their work in dull silence . . . under the threat of whips."
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How much do we value our own freedom? Lord, help us use our religious freedom to spread the good news of your word.
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The first book of Moses gave us the history of certain men and families that were of importance in God's dealing with men. From the second book of Moses, the Exodus, it is only Israel the whole nation, that is the theme. Two events are standing out - the exodus and the covenant at Mount Sinai. Not to tell his story but to explain the basis of religion is the theme. These two events are the basis of the religion of Israel. The main figure is Moses. In the four hundred and thirty years that the descendants of Jacob had lived in Egypt, they had become a big people. So big that they were a danger to their host country. "The new king who knew nothing of Joseph" is probably Seti I who ruled from 1318 to 1299 B.C. He was so alarmed by the increase of the Hebrews that he took the most illogical steps. He commanded: "Throw all the boys born of the Hebrews into the river, but let the girls live" (verse 22). The value to him would have been the workforce of the foreign slaves: a decision made in panic.
Whenever and wherever there are oppression and persecutions, as well as violence and wars, it would be necessary to look at how it all started. Of course there are many reasons for such injustice and even bloodshed, besides the finger-pointing and blaming of every involved party. But at the root of it all, are two factors that are always present - insecurity and intolerance. That can be seen in the 1st reading, the Pharaoh was disturbed about the Israelites becoming so numerous and strong. He was actually disturbed by his own insecurity and that developed into an intolerance against the Israelites. So the solution was to oppress them with hard labour and then slavery. Then finally came the persecution - to kill all the baby boys born of the Hebrew women by throwing them into the river. So it happened during the Pharaoh's time; it had happened in the past, and it is still happening. It had happened and is still happening to nations, to countries, to societies, to communities, to families, to individuals. And lurking behind the insecurity and intolerance is fear - fear of the other or others. The way to overcome the fear is to heed the teaching of Jesus to take up our cross and follow in His footsteps. Because the truth is in what Jesus said: Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for My sake will find it. When we understand this teaching and follow it, then our fear will turn into freedom.
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When Jesus instructed the twelve, he knew that ten of them would lay down their life for him. He is very open and honest with them. He does not hide anything. He promises them the sword, warfare, not peace. Even what they value most dearly, their closest relatives, they may have to give up. Even more than that they may have to choose the cross. Jesus does not refer here to his own cross. The men standing before him how what he means. Varus had 2,000 Galileans crucified to quell a revolt not many years before this. Following in his footsteps, is to be a man of a courageous decision, whatever the cost. If he and the twelve are taken by the Romans to be revolutionaries. There will be a revolution that is what they have to expect. Being an apostle also has its rewards. Who receives them receives him. Lovingly, he calls his apostles "little ones”.
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Christ could bring us life and grace because he suffered for us. He could rise because he was crucified and died on a cross. No easy life is promised to his disciples. Suffering, the cross are their share too. In God’s plan, this is the way to life. It’s not too comfortable, but these are God’s terms.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, we have accepted your invitation to follow your Son Jesus as his disciples. Let your Spirit give us the wisdom and strength to take our faith seriously and to accept our task in life with all its consequences. Let your Spirit help us to follow your Son without fear or discouragement, for we are certain that Jesus will lead us to you, our loving God, for ever and ever. Amen
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Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Feast day July 14
Kateri Tekakwitha is called the Lily of the Mohawks. Her name Tekakwitha means “putting things in order.” She put her life in order in a short time.
Kateri was a Mohawk Indian born in what is now Auriesville, New York, ten years after Isaac Jogues and his companions were martyred there. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin Indian, and her father was a pagan Mohawk chief. Her parents and a brother died of smallpox when she was only four. Kateri recovered from the disease, but it left her eyes weak and her face scarred.
When Kateri’s uncle and aunts wanted her to marry, she refused. She felt that the Great Spirit was the only one she could love. This angered her uncle.
Kateri learned more about God from a missionary and asked to be baptized. She was baptized on Easter Sunday. It was hard for Kateri to live as a Christian. Her people expected her to work in the fields on Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Sometimes they didn’t feed her. Children made fun of her and threw stones at her. Kateri endured this for two years.
Finally a priest advised Kateri to go to Canada where she would be with other Christians. One day when her uncle was not home, she left for Canada with a Christian named Hot Ashes. When Kateri’s uncle found out she was missing, he followed her but did not catch her.
Kateri brought with her a note from the missionary priest to a Canadian priest that said, “I send you a treasure, Katherine Tekakwitha. Guard her well.” Kateri lived an outstanding Christian life. She went to Mass daily, made frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and prayed the rosary often. She cared for the sick and the old and taught the children. She did much penance.
Kateri suffered from bad headaches. She was not strong and could eat very little. When she died at the age of twenty-four, the scars on her face disappeared and she was beautiful. Kateri’s last words were, “Jesus, I love you.”
