＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Ex 3:1–6, 9–12

Moses pastured the sheep of Jethro,  his father-in-law, priest of Midian.

One day he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the Mountain of God.

The Angel of Yahweh appeared to him by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought, “I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up?”

Yahweh saw that Moses was drawing near to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush,     “Moses! Moses!” He replied, He “Here I am.” Yahweh said to him, “Do not come near;  take off your sandals because the place where you are standing is holy ground.”   And God continued,    “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,      the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

The cry of the sons of Israel has reached me and I have seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Go now! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people,   the sons of Israel, out of Egypt Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?

God replied, “I will be with you and this will be the sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mt 11:25–27

 On one occasion Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you,  because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people.      Yes, Father, this was your gracious will.

“Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father.No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 

Reflection gospel：

 “THINGS REVEALED TO THE SIMPLE ONES.”

The dawning of the kingdom of God reveals God’s plan of salvation enacted by Jesus in preaching, teaching and healing ministry. The gospel reading today establishes the credibility of Jesus as the “instrument of revelation and knowledge of God” (Brendan Byrne). Citing his knowledge of the Father and the Father’s knowledge of Jesus, he grounds his messianic ministry.

Brendan Byrne commented that Jesus and the Father are “locked in a mutual exchange of knowledge.” This means that Jesus and the Father share a relationship of undivided unity. They are intimately one. And this is the basis of Jesus credibility as bringer of the God’s reign it is grounded on his relationship with the Father.

Even in our time we can share in this relationship of love and knowledge of Jesus and the Father through the Spirit working in us. A prayerful life, a life lived in integrity and honesty, a life lived in service of all creation, humans and nonhumans alike – all these are concrete instances of sharing in this relationship. Participating in the relationship of love of the Father and Jesus (and the Spirit) will help us reorient our lives toward things of authentic value.