Daily Reading
First Reading
Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
Psalm
Psalm 103:1b-2, 3-4, 6-7
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 11:25-27
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Reflection
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals his intimate relationship with his Father: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
There is something absolutely remarkable and peculiar about Jesus. Like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and David, he is sent by God. So far, so ordinary. However, this sent one is, at the same time, God. For he speaks and acts consistently in the very person of God: “Unless you love me . . .” “My son, your sins are forgiven . . .” “You’ve heard it said, but I say . . .” “Heaven and earth shall pass away . . .”
There seems to be one who is, in one sense, other than the one who sent him, and in another sense the same as the one who sent him. This one comes forth from the Father not as a creature but as an image and perfect reflection, the Logos or Word by which the Father understands himself.
These two “persons,” the Father and the Son, look at one another from all eternity and they sigh forth their love for one another. This mutual breathing-forth is the Holy Spirit.