1ST READING
The
stubbornness of Pharaoh is legendary. It is going to result in the
destruction of his armies. Let us pray that we will avoid the sort of
stubbornness that leads to destruction. The only stubbornness that is
good is stubbornness in obeying God’s Word.
Exodus 14:5-18 (or Song of Songs 3:1-4 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)
5 When
it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh
and his servants changed their minds about them. They exclaimed, “What
have we done! Why, we have released Israel from our service!” 6 So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiers — 7 six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all. 8 So obstinate had the Lord made Pharaoh that he pursued the children of Israel even while they were marching away in triumph. 9 The Egyptians,
then, pursued them; Pharaoh’s whole army, his horses, chariots and
charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at
Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 Pharaoh
was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the
Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they
cried out to the Lord. 11
And
they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that
you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this
to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? 12 Did
we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us
serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the
Egyptians than to die in the desert.” 13 But
Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will
see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom
you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 And
you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split
the sea in two, that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry
land. 17 But
I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them.
Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his
chariots and
charioteers. 18 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.”
P S A L M
Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (or Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)
R: Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory.
1 I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. 2 My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him. (R) 3 The Lord is a warrior, Lord is his name! 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the
sea; the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. (R)’ 5 The flood waters covered them, they sank into the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power, your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy. (R)
GOSPEL
We
should be careful about the importance that we give to signs. The
greatest and probably the only necessary sign that we need has already
been given — that Jesus has risen from the dead. Let us be satisfied
with what God chooses to give us rather than spend our time looking for
the spectacular to convince us of God’s love.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
Matthew 12:38-42 (or John 20:1-2, 11-18)
38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 He
said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 Just
as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so
will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41 At
the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and
condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there
is something greater than Jonah here. 42 At
the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and
condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the
wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
think: The only stubbornness that is good is stubbornness in obeying God’s Word.
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 Tobit 8-11
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