Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": July 20

Do you see twelve connections
between the outfit and today's readings?
Legend below

Listen

Song of Moses/ Pulkingham arr. Volz (psalm)

Look beyond/ Ducote ("Give us a sign that we might believe in you..." for gospel)

Stop! In the name of love/ Holland, Dozier et al. (reflection)

Read

Ex 14:5-18 When the king found out the Israelites fled, he sent his army to pursue them. When they caught up, the Israelites in fear cried to the Lord and complained to Moses, who answered, “Fear not! You'll see the victory the Lord will win for you; just keep still.” Lord to Moses: “Tell them to go forward. Lift up your staff and split the sea in two, that they may pass on dry land. I'll make the Egyptians so obstinate that they'll go in after them; then I'll receive glory through Pharaoh and his army, and the Egyptians shall know that I'm the Lord.”

Ex 15:1bc-6 "Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory." My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. I extol him. Your powerful right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.

Mt 12:38-42 Scribes and Pharisees / Jesus: “We wish to see a sign from you.” / “An unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but they'll only get the sign of Jonah. As he was in the whale's belly three days and nights, so will the Son of Man be in the earth three days and nights. The Ninevites will condemn this generation, because they repented at Jonah's preaching, and there's something greater than Jonah here. The queen of the south will condemn this generation, because she came to hear Solomon's wisdom of Solomon;and there's something greater than Solomon here.”

Reflect

Creighton: Scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign even though they'd seen his miracles. In Exodus, God sent plagues even to the killing of firstborns, but Pharaoh remained obstinate. Do I ignore signs God gives me?

One Bread One Body: "Stop sign": They wanted Jesus to do a magic trick, but he only gave them the sign of Jonah, the sign of the cross. The cross is like a stop sign: when we see a stop sign, we stop to see what's happening. When we see a crucifix, we should stop, fix our eyes on Jesus, know he's God, listen, and keep still. Stop, in the name of Love!

Passionist: The Israelites have begun their great journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, from oppression to freedom. When the army caught up with them, they lost heart and turned on their leader, Moses turned to God, and God responded, “Tell them to go forward….” God created a safe path for them. This story marks the beginning of the Israelites' 40-year exodus; today's crisis is only the first of many. The people lose heart and believe that they can't complete the journey, but God remains faithful, responding to their cries, meeting their needs, and encouraging them not to lose heart. May we remember this as we face our own fears, obstacles, betrayals, and frailty.

DailyScripture.net: Jesus warned his generation when they asked for a sign, faulting them for "spiritual adultery." He says he himself is the sign and that should be enough. The Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba recognized God, but these religious leaders didn't accept the signs before them: John the Baptist and Jesus. Simeon prophesied Jesus was destined for the fall and rise of many, and would be a sign to lay bare the thoughts of many. Jesus offers us freedom, wisdom, and understanding if only we humble ourselves and accept and submit to it....

Dress legend

'Horse' and 'chariot' tie pins: Pharaoh's army, horses, and chariots got stuck in the sea (1st reading, psalm)

'Signs' tie: "We need to see a sign from you" / "You'll only get the sign of Jonah" (gospel)

'Whale' tie pin, 'clock' tie bar: "As Jonah was in the whale's belly 3 days and 3 nights..." (gospel)

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"