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Jesus: The New Moses

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In last Sunday’s First Reading we read how Charlton Heston Moses said that another prophet would come after him. This promise reaches its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. This is why Jesus is often referred to as “The New Moses”.

Below are a list of similarities between Jesus and Moses which I recently added to my commentary on last Sunday’s Readings:

1. Pharaoh killed all the the male Hebrew babies, but Moses was saved (Exodus 1:22; 2:1-2).
Herod killed all the male babies in and around Bethlehem, but Jesus escaped (Matthew 2:16-18).

2. Moses fled from Egypt, but later returned (Exodus 2:15; 4:18)
Jesus fled to Egypt and later returned to Israel (Matthew 2:13-23)

3. Moses went up the mountain to receive the Law (Exodus 24:1-3)
Jesus delivered the New Law at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-3)

4. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant through the blood of young bulls (Exodus 24:8)
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant through His own blood (Matthew 26:28)

5. Moses did not eat or drink for forty days and forty nights (Exodus 34:28)
Jesus also fasted while being tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:2)

6. Moses delivers the first five books of the Bible (Genesis – Deuteronomy)
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives five extended sermons (Matthew 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 24-25)

7. Moses lifted up the bronze snake in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9)
Jesus said that, in a similar way, He Himself would be “lifted up” (John 3:14).

A *truly* extraordinary Minister!

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St TarcisiusSince in JP2 we’ve been studying early Christian worship, we’ve been talking a lot about the Eucharist. A story which illustrates the importance of the Eucharist to the Early Church is that of St. Tarsicius.

St. Tarsicius was an acolyte (one of the minor orders of clergy) who was killed by a gang of pagans as he carried a portion of the Eucharist from the Eucharistic liturgy.

It is quite likely that he was taking Holy Communion to someone sick or in prison. At that time it was also the practice for some of the consecrated bread to be taken from the bishop’s Mass to the other Masses around the city as a sign of unity with the bishop.

Here is how Tarsicius’ story is recorded in the Roman Martyrology:

“…the heathen met [him] bearing the sacrament of the Body of Christ and asked him what it was he carried. He judged it a shameful thing to cast pearls before swine, and so was attacked by them for a long time with sticks and stones, until he gave up the ghost. When they turned over his body, the sacrilegious assailants could find no trace of Christ’s sacrament, either in his hands or among his clothing.”
– Roman Martyrology

The Eucharist – a meal worth dying for…

Sunday Lectionary: Oh that today you would listen to His voice…

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4th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 29th January, 2012

Jesus TeachingIn our First Reading, Moses promises that a prophet will come after him, someone who will guide Israel. In the light of the New Testament, we recognize this person to be Jesus Christ who, in this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, not only teaches with authority, but demonstrates that authority by casting out an unclean spirit.

The psalmist in this Sunday’s psalm sings “Oh, that today you would hear his voice…harden not your hearts”. That is our invitation this Sunday. We are invited to come and listen to the voice of the Lord. The word of God is powerful indeed. If we come to the Scriptures with open hearts they have the power to transform our lives….

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Sparrow

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You know, there’s a reason why this blog’s theme tune is a song written by Audrey Assad…

The original lyrics for this song were written by Civilla Martin. The sparrow referred to in the song is a reference to Jesus’ teaching recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?…Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”- Matthew 6:26; 10:29-31

I came across a moving description by the author concerning the song’s inspiration:

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them.

One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience” – Civilla Martin

My Godson’s Birthday

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Today is my Godson’s birthday so I thought I’d do a little bit of a giveaway to mark the occasion. The prize up for grabs is a signed copy of Getting Started In Apologetics by the very excellent Patrick Coffin.

Entering is easy. Simply leave a comment below, together with the text of your favourite prayer (I’m always on the lookout for new ones!).

At the end of the month I will then use a random number generator to pick the winner and then mail out the CDs.

Good luck!

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Liturgy of St. James

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St James Below is the text that we will be studying in JP2 on Thursday. It is an abridged form of the ancient Liturgy of St. James. This version of it comes from around the 4th Century.

This is the oldest Eucharistic liturgy still in use today. It was also the blueprint used for the Liturgy of St. Basil and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, both of which are regularly used among Byzantine Catholics and Eastern Orthodox today. 

Petitions

Priest: Peace be with you.

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: The Lord bless us all, and sanctify us for the…celebration of the divine and pure mysteries…  Amen.

Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord. For the peace that is from on high, and for God’s love to man, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. For peace in the whole world, for the unity of all the holy churches of God, let us pray to the Lord. For the remission of our sins, and forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, … and distress…, let us pray to the Lord.

Singers: Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, have mercy upon us.

Priest: O compassionate and merciful, patient, gracious, and true God…hear us. Deliver us from every temptation of the devil and man… For we are unable to overcome what is opposed to us. But you are able, Lord, to save us… Because you are holy, Lord our God, … we send up the praise and the thrice-holy hymn to you, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and for all eternity.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with you.

People: And with your spirit.

Singers: Alleluia.

[The liturgy proceeds with readings from the Old and New Testaments]

Deacon: Let us all say: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers: We beseech you, hear us. For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord… For the people standing and waiting for the rich and bountiful mercy that comes from you, we beseech you, be merciful and gracious.

Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance. Visit your world with mercy and compassion. Exalt the horn of Christians by the power of the precious and life-giving cross. We beseech you, most merciful Lord, hear our prayer, and have mercy upon us.

People: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

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