Readings and Reflection for July 15 Thursday Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (M)

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FIRST READING
“I am who am. I am has sent me to you.”
A reading from the Book of Exodus (Exodus 3: 13-20)

In those days: [Hearing the voice  of the Lord out of the midst of the bush,] Moses said to God, “If I come to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, ’and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the sons of  Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of  your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt; and I promise that I will bring you up out of  the affliction of  Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we beg you, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. ’ I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders which I will do in it; after that he will let you go.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIALPSALM Ps105:1.5.8-9.24-25.26-27(R.8a)
R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name.
Make known his deeds among the peoples.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his marvels and his words of judgement. R.

He remembers his covenant forever:
The promise he ordained for a thousand generations, 
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac. R

R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

He gave his people great increase;
He made them stronger than their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
and to deal deceitfully with his servants. R.

Then he sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
They performed God’s signs among them,
and his wonders in the land of Ham. R.

ALLELUIA Matthew 11:28
Alleluia. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“I am gentle and lowly in heart.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 11:28-30)

At that time: Jesus declared, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and l will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

The Lord heard the cries of the oppressed and heavily burdened Hebrew people and decided to bring them out of Egypt and lead them to the country flowing with milk and honey. Moses was entrusted with the difficult task to go and convince Pharaoh to free the Hebrew people. The lord would not take a ‘no’ from Pharaoh as an answer because he was filled with compassion for his suffering people. In today’s gospel we hear Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest”. We are the new Israel; God’s chosen people, his beloved one redeemed by the blood of Christ. He is mindful of our situation and understands our struggles, trials, suffering and pains. We are invited to find our rest and experience the freedom of the children of God in the life-giving word of God and the sacraments. No suffering, no trial is beyond the power of God to conquer.

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