The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.
Oppression is used by the enemies of Christ to constrain humanity from the true service of God.
“And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay, and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.” (Exodus 1:14)
“I have already lived through many paschs, which was the fruit of a long life. But now I desire a purer pasch: to depart from this Egypt, the heavy and dark Egypt of this life, and to be freed from the clay and bricks that held us in bondage and to pass over to the land of promise.” – St. Gregory the Theologian
Eternal life is often yearned for by the just.
“’We have been led out of Egypt where we were serving the devil as a pharaoh, where we were doing works of clay amid earthly desires, and we were laboring much in them. For Christ cried out to us, as if we were making bricks, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.’ Led out of here, we were led over through baptism as through the Red Sea—red for this reason, because consecrated by the blood of Christ—when all our enemies who were assailing us were dead, that is, when our sins have been wiped out.” – St. Augustine of Hippo
The Lord, far from being an Oppressor, gives us true freedom and peace.
“Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Discussion: How do the demands of the world and Our Lord differ? What are the fruits of both?
“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” – St. Clare of Assisi
“We should ever be grateful for and love the vocation to which God has called us. This applies to every vocation because, after all, what a privilege it is to serve God, even in the least capacity!” – Blessed Solanus Casey
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 