1ST READING
We
celebrate one of the more ancient names given to Mary today — Our Lady
of Mt. Carmel. The Carmelites tell us that there has been a continuous
community of monks at Mt. Carmel ever since the time of Elijah. Whether
this is true or not does not really matter. What matters is that we draw
from the wealth of spirituality that comes to us through Mt. Carmel and
its holy men and women.
Exodus 2:1-15
1 A certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 who conceived and bore a son. Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months. 3 When
she could hide him no longer, she took a papyrus basket, daubed it with
bitumen and pitch, and putting the child in it, placed it among the
reeds on the river bank. 4 His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him.
5 Pharaoh’s
daughter came down to the river to bathe, while her maids walked along
the river bank. Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her
handmaid to fetch it. 6 On
opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying! She was
moved with pity for him and said, “It is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 “Yes,
do so,” she answered. So the maiden went and called the child’s own mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will repay you.” The woman therefore took the child and nursed it. 10 When
the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him
as her son and called him Moses; for she said, “I drew him out of the
water.” 11 On one occasion, after Moses had grown up, when he visited his kinsmen and witnessed their forced
labor, he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen. 12 Looking about and seeing no one, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The
next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So he
asked the culprit, “Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?” 14 But
the culprit replied, “Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us?
Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses
became afraid and thought, “The affair must certainly be
known.” 15 Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put Moses to death. But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian.
P S A L M
Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34
R: Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
2 [3] I am sunk in the abysmal swamp where there is no foothold; I have reached the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me. (R) 13 [14] But I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. (R) 29 [30] But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. 30 [31] I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. (R) 32 [33] “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! 33 [34] For the Lord hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” (R)
GOSPEL
There
are times when it is very difficult to believe in Jesus’ offer of
salvation due to the situations or experiences we may be going through.
What is essential is that we keep our focus on God’s will as Mary did
when she underwent suffering as the Mother of Christ. Mary had been
there before us and we can be sure she will help us with her prayers in
our times of need.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Matthew 11:20-24
20 Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. 21 “Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done
in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have
repented in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And
as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down
to the netherworld.’ For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had
been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
think:
What is essential is that we keep our focus on God’s will as Mary did
when she underwent suffering as the Mother of Christ.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezra 6-10
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