Sing “alleluia” to the Lord
August 17, 2023 - Thursday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Psalm 114 makes allusions to five events in the salvation history of Israel. The first event is the exodus from Egypt (Ps 114:1), the second is the crossing of the Red Sea (Ps 114:3), the third is the crossing of the Jordan (Ps 114:3), the fourth is the revelation of God on Mount Sinai (Ps 114:7) and the fifth is drawing water from the rock (Ps 114:8). Thus, in view of the psalmist, many incredible things happened “when Israel came forth from Egypt” (Ps 114:1). But the most important message that the psalmist wants to communicate is the fact that Israel became God’s people. The Egyptian masters were replaced by the Lord, and obedience to the Pharaoh with obedience to the Lord.
Wikipedia tells us that Haiti was the first nation to abolish slavery. It took place in 1804. The US abolished slavery in 1865 and China in 1910. But then, the entry to the article “Timeline of the abolition of slavery and serfdom” ends with this shocking statement: “Although slavery is now abolished ‘by law’ in all countries, ‘in fact’ practices akin to it continue today in many places throughout the world, almost exclusively in Asia and Africa”. But, the article on Wikipedia does not explain why it is so, and it does not mention other forms of slavery that plague our lives. We have to go to the Bible to realise that slavery has its origin in our enslavement to sin. We tend to enslave others because we are slaves ourselves.
Psalm 114 celebrates the liberation of Israel from Egypt which foreshadowed the liberation of humanity from sin. Two figures played a crucial role in the liberation of Israel: Moses who brought the people out of Egypt and Joshua who brought them into the Promised Land. On the other hand, freedom from slavery to sin was achieved by one person only - Jesus Christ. The joyful liturgical celebration of the liberation of Israel from Egypt during the yearly feast of Passover which included the singing of Psalm 114 is taken up by the “alleluia” of the Church during the weekly celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
The psalmist begins his song of freedom with the statement “When Israel went forth from Egypt” and then describes how natural elements participated in this event. One of the Easter English songs is titled “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!” The song invites the entire universe to sing “alleluia” and the reason for that joy is Christ’s victory over death. The author quotes Saint Paul’s question directed to death: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55).
Psalm 114 makes three references to water: the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and the water that came from the rock. We have come forth from the slavery to sin through the water of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit, our stony hearts have been transformed into springs of living water (see Ezekiel 36:26; John 7:38). We are free at last. We live for God and, in gratitude, we sing with the whole universe “alleluia” to the Lord.