July 21, 2025 Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Exodus 14:5-18; Matthew 12:38-42
The Lord had already worked nine mighty plagues through Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, all aimed at securing the freedom of the Israelites. Despite the resistance of the Egyptian magicians and Pharaoh’s hardened heart, the tenth plague, claiming the firstborn of the Egyptians, finally breaks Pharaoh’s resolve. It leads to the Israelites celebrating their first-ever Passover and beginning their journey into the wilderness.
Yet, even before crossing the Red Sea, Pharaoh regrets his decision. The Lord, again hardening his heart, allows him to pursue the Israelites with his powerful army. Faced with this imminent threat, the Israelites lose their faith and murmur against Moses and the Lord, declaring they would rather serve the Egyptians than perish in the wilderness. Moses reassures them: “Do not be afraid… stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today” (cf. Ex 14:13). Once again, the staff given by God becomes a sign of divine power.
The goal of the Red Sea episode is twofold: to affirm God’s might to the Israelites and to make the Egyptians recognize that the Lord of Israel is the true and living God, who gains glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his army.
In the Gospel, the tension between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees intensifies. These men, considered learned and religious, feel threatened by the impact of Jesus’ preaching and miracles. They address Jesus respectfully as “Teacher”, a tactic meant to test, tempt, and trap Him. They demand a sign to prove His divine authority.
Jesus responds in two sharp ways. First, He draws a parallel with Jonah: just as Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the fish, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth, foretelling His own death, burial, and resurrection. This is the ultimate sign. Secondly, He compares His generation unfavorably with the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah’s preaching, and the Queen of the South, who traveled far to hear Solomon’s wisdom. In both cases, Jesus affirms that “something greater than Jonah… greater than Solomon is here.” His listeners, well-versed in the Scriptures, would recognize these as powerful rebuttals.
Call to Action: Jesus knew the Scriptures deeply and used them wisely to respond to hostile moments. Knowing Christ and His Word equips us to face the challenges and disbelief of our times with truth, strength, and grace.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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