＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Ex 3:13–20

Moses answered God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them:

The God of your fathers has sent me to you,  they will ask me: ‘What is his name?’ What shall I answer them?

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO AM. This is what you will say to the sons of Israel: I AM sent me to you. God then said to Moses, “You will say to the Israelites: YAHWEH, the God of your fathers,    the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me. That will be my name forever, and by this name they shall call upon me for all generations to come.

Moses is given his mission Go! Call together the elders of Israel and say to them, Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob appeared to me and said: I have seen and taken account of how the Egyptians have treated you,  and I mean to bring you out of     all this oppression in Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanites, a land flowing with milk and honey.’

The elders of Israel will listen to you and, with them, you shall go to the palace of the king of Egypt and say to him: ‘The God of the Hebrews, Yahweh, has met with us.  Now let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to Yahweh our God.’

I well know that the king of the Egyptians will not allow you to go unless he is forced to do so. I will therefore stretch out my hand and strike Egypt in extraordinary ways, after which he will let you go.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

  Mt 11:28–30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy; and my burden is light.”

    

Reflection gospel：

“MY YOKE EASY,MY BURDEN LIGHT.”

Yesterday’s gospel reading highlights the basis of Jesus’ credibility and authority. Now Jesus invites people to himself. He did not only say “Come,” but said “Come to me….” Emphasis is being made bere on his personhood. He invites people, who are burdened and harassed, and have rest in him. He invites them (and us) to enter into relationship in him.

The key word here is “relationship.” Coming to Jesus is to enter into relationship with him in the Spirit. For it is only in such relationship that we can learn from him and find rest; it is only in this relationship that we find direction and strength. Outside this relationship, life becomes chaotic and burdensome. Outside this relationship, we grope in the “dark.”

But what is there exactly in the relationship that makes the troubles and challenges of life easier to handle: it is the unconditional and unrestricted love of God flooding our hearts. When this love fills our hearts we begin to see clearly, and we see things anew. Furthermore, we are able to see our bearings straight.