Sunday Vigil
Memorial of the prophet Elijah who was taken into heaven and left his mantle to Elisha.
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Exodus 12,37-42
The Israelites left Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand on the march-men, that is, not counting their families. A mixed crowd of people went with them, and flocks and herds, quantities of livestock. And with the dough which they had brought from Egypt they baked unleavened cakes, because the dough had not risen, since they had been driven out of Egypt without time to linger or to prepare food for themselves. The time that the Israelites spent in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And on the very day the four hundred and thirty years ended, all Yahweh's armies left Egypt. The night when Yahweh kept vigil to bring them out of Egypt must be kept as a vigil in honour of Yahweh by all Israelites, for all generations.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The people set off. There is no Passover without going out, without moving out. There can be no new life or future land without facing the journey, sometimes treacherous and difficult, which puts us to the test but ultimately leads to the promised land. Jesus himself will send his disciples to the very ends of the earth, so that Christians might bring the Gospel of love to all peoples. And we must hurry to do it. Especially in this time in which globalization has made people closer through the market but not through fraternity. We cannot put off the proclamation of the "Good News" that saves all. God hurries us, because he knows that complicity with evil is not without consequences. God is in a hurry that His people listen to the cry of all people of the earth, especially of the immense people of the poor and dismissed people that cross the entire planet. But we humans often think that the suffering of the poor and the prisoners can wait. This passage shows with extreme clarity that one can save him or herself. Unfortunately Christianity was affected by the virus of individualism that disaggregates the sense of being part of one people. Also freedom is often reduced to care for one's own space. Thus we become slaves of the Pharaoh hidden in the heart of each of us. We must be vigilant, pray and listen to the Word of God; and we need to do it together. The entire creation is waiting for its Passover, its passage from death to life. Let us be led by God's word and let us set off in his light as it shows us the path to walk on.