Readings of The Day's Mass

Saturday of Week 15; St. Camillus de Lellis


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FIRST READING
Exodus 12:37-42

The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones. A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them, besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds. Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened, they baked it into unleavened loaves. They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity even to prepare food for the journey.

The time the children of Israel had stayed in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. At the end of four hundred and thirty years, all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date. This was a night of vigil for the LORD, as he led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the LORD throughout their generations.


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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 136:1 and 23-24, 10-12, 13-15

R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; Who remembered us in our abjection, for his mercy endures forever; And freed us from our foes, for his mercy endures forever.

R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, for his mercy endures forever; And brought out Israel from their midst, for his mercy endures forever; With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his mercy endures forever.

R. His mercy endures forever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Who split the Red Sea in twain, for his mercy endures forever; And led Israel through its midst, for his mercy endures forever; But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his mercy

iMissal: My Daily Bread Verse

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.

Reflection on Readings of The Mass

Reflection for July 15, 2015
DEPENDING ON REVELATION
"Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to You I offer praise; for what You have hidden from the learned and the clever You have revealed to the merest children." –Matthew 11:25
The Father reveals what has been hidden. The Son reveals the Father (Mt 11:27). God's revelation is so precious. Contrary to the old saying, what we don't know does hurt us. However, what we do know can do more than help us; it can transform us.

For example, Moses was a victim of Egyptian oppression. He never knew his parents. He had a speech defect. He was a murderer and a refugee (see Ex 2:11ff). However, when he received God's revelation at the burning bush, he became a new man. His job, residence, and even his face (Ex 34:29) changed. He changed from a frightened refugee into a mighty liberator. God's revelation to Moses resulted in the liberation of the whole Israelite nation. Revelation leads to transformation and liberation.

We receive divine revelation not by being learned and clever, but by being more dependent on the Lord than babies are on their parents (Mt 11:25). For instance, we can receive God's revelation by going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion in an attitude of adoration and submission. We can receive revelation by praying, fasting, and knowing that without Jesus we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). We can also receive revelation by reading and living the Church's teachings and the Bible without leaning on our own understanding (see Prv 3:5). We receive God's revelation when we depend on Him. New life is in revelation.

PRAYER:  Father, tell me "things great beyond reach of [my] knowledge" (Jer 33:3).
PROMISE:  "Father, it is true. You have graciously willed it so. Everything has been given over to Me by My Father." –Mt 11:26-27
PRAISE:  St. Bonaventure's humility was so great that he chose to finish washing the dishes before he would listen to the news of his being appointed cardinal.

Readings of The Day's Mass

Wednesday of Week 15; St. Bonaventure


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FIRST READING
Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, "I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned."

When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. The cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?" He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain."


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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 103:1b-2, 3-4, 6-7

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed. He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.


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ALLELUIA
Matthew 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


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GOSPEL
Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."