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First Reading: Exodus 1:8-14, 22
A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful
the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;
otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies
to fight against us, and so leave our country.”
Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israel
to oppress them with forced labor.
Thus they had to build for Pharaoh
the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.
Yet the more they were oppressed,
the more they multiplied and spread.
The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israel
and reduced them to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick
and all kinds of field work–the whole cruel fate of slaves.
Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,
“Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,
but you may let all the girls live.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
R./ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the Lord been with us–
let Israel say, had not the Lord been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R./ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
Blessed be the Lord, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R./ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
R./ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:34-11:1
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
we have accepted your invitation
to follow your Son Jesus, as his disciples.
Let your Spirit give us the wisdom and strength
to take our faith seriously
and to accept our task in life with all its consequences.
Let your Spirit help us to follow your Son
without fear or discouragement,
for we are certain that Jesus will lead us to you,
our loving God, for ever and ever.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase.
In year I, the first readings of the weekdays of the 15th week to Friday of the 17th week of Ordinary Time are taken from the Book of Exodus. They are of primary importance for the religious history of humanity and of God’s adventure with his chosen people. Terms like slavery and oppression in the religious sense, Passover, Passover Lamb, salvation through water, covenant, the making of a people and nation, the Promised Land, the Law and the Ten Commandments, are themes fundamental for Christianity too. The first reading in Year I shows us the slavery and oppression of the Hebrews, the core of the People of God, in Egypt.
Gospel Reading Introduction: I have come to bring not peace, but the sword.
Christ could bring us life and grace because he suffered for us. He could rise because he was crucified and died on a cross. No easy life is promised to his disciples. Suffering and the cross are their share too. In God’s plan, this is the way to life. It’s not too comfortable, but these are God’s terms.
General Intercessions
– That those whom the Lord calls to special ministries in the Church may follow him resolutely; that all of us may unwaveringly commit ourselves to Jesus and to people as Jesus commits himself to us, we pray:
– That the leaders of nations may be committed to the good of their people, in justice and a sprit of service, we pray:
– That our prayers and worship of the Lord may commit us more to the causes we pray for, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these gifts of bread and wine,
we bring ourselves before you
and you let your Son give himself to us.
May we learn from him to make ourselves free
for people and for you
and to seek your will in all we do.
May we follow in his trials and in his glory
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
in this Eucharist you have enlightened us
with the word and wisdom of your Son
and given us his nourishing, strong bread
to follow him without hesitation.
Fill us with the wisdom and power of your Spirit
to go with Jesus without hesitation
through the desert of pain and the cross,
for the sake of bringing his life and joy
to our brothers and sisters in need
and for giving glory to you, now and for ever.
Blessing
Be free. Be true and honest with yourselves, be honest with God and faithful to Jesus and his message, even if it causes conflicts with people dearest to you. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
