＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9

So Moses cut two slabs of stone like the first.

Then he rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai as Yahweh had commanded, taking in his hands the two slabs of stone.  And Yahweh came down in a cloud and stood there with him, and Moses called on the name of Yahweh. Then Yahweh passed in front of him  and cried out, “Yahweh, Yah­weh is a God full of pity and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in truth and loving-kindness.

Moses hastened to bow down to the ground and worshiped. He then said, “If you really look kindly on me, my Lord, please come and walk in our midst and even though we are a stiff-necked peo­ple, pardon our wickedness and our sin and make us yours.”

 

Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56(52b)

Glory and praise for ever!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Finally, brothers and sisters, be happy, strive to be perfect, have courage, be of one mind and live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of Christ Jesus the Lord, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

The first and second readings speak of God’s love and mercy, and the Gospel shows us how this was make flesh and blood in Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God who came to earth in order that the love and mercy of God might be made incarnate, for all of us to see, to touch, to hear, to feel, and to taste.

Reflect:

There is probably no more beautiful line in all of Scripture than the one that says ”God is love” (I John 4:7). God is love itself. His very being is love. His willing to create is done out of love.

His caring for his creation is born out of love. And his sending his his Beloved Son to redeem his fallen beloved creatures is motivated by a love so pure it sacrificed itself on the cross if only to prove without a shadow of doubt how immense and all encompassing his love is.

There is truly “no greater love” and God himself showed us what it is like. It is an awesome mystery, great and tremendous reality to wrap our minds around.

But what’s even more profound a mystery is the fact that this all-embracing love, this love that brought all things into being and sustains them in being – as St. Augustine says – loves each one of us as if we were the only one to love.

Pray:

Lord, when I really try to wrap my mind around the immensity of your love for me, I can only fall down in wonder, awe, and gratitude. How could I even comprehend the magnitude, the depth and the mystery of your love” And yet you love me, just as I am. Let me rest in your love.

Act:

Make an offering out of love, to the God who has loved you with a love so immense, it died for you on the cross.