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HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS TODAY

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS     Act of Love before Mass
O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.  Mass Readings  Lectures du jour Reflection for the day

First reading Exodus 14:5-18
Pharoah sets out in pursuit of  the sons of Israel
When Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was told that the Israelites had made their escape, he and his courtiers changed their minds about the people. ‘What have we done,’ they said ‘allowing Israel to leave our service?’ So Pharaoh had his chariot harnessed and gathered his troops about him, taking six hundred of the best chariots and all the other chariots in Egypt, each manned by a picked team. The Lord made Pharaoh, king of Egypt, stubborn, and he gave chase to the sons of Israel as they made their triumphant escape. So the Egyptians gave chase and came up with them where they lay encamped beside the sea – all the horses, the chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, his army – near Pi-hahiroth, facing Baal-zephon. And as Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked round – and there were the Egyptians in pursuit of them! 

The sons of Israel were terrified and cried out to the Lord. To Moses they said, ‘Were there no graves in Egypt that you must lead us out to die in the wilderness? What good have you done us, bringing us out of Egypt? We spoke of this in Egypt, did we not? Leave us alone, we said, we would rather work for the Egyptians! Better to work for the Egyptians than die in the wilderness!’ 

Moses answered the people, ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you: you have only to keep still.’ 

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me so? Tell the sons of Israel to march on. For yourself, raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and part it for the sons of Israel to walk through the sea on dry ground. I for my part will make the heart of the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow them. So shall I win myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, of all his army, his chariots, his horsemen. And when I have won glory for myself, at the expense of Pharaoh and his chariots and his army, the Egyptians will learn that I am the Lord.’ 

Responsorial Psalms
I will sing to the Lord, glorious his triumph!

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Alleluia!  Ps. 94:8

Gospel  Matt. 12:38-42 
There is something greater than miracle here
Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is
the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

Prayer for Wisdom: God of my fathers, Lord of mercy, who by your word hace made all things and your wisdom have established man to be master of the creatures you have made, to rule the world in holiness and righteousness  with an upright heart, grant me wisdom, the consort of your throne, and reject me not from your children.

For your servant am I, son of your handmaid, a human being who is weak and short-lived, young and in understanding of judgement and law; though one be perfect among human beings, yet if wisdom from you be not with him, he shall be regarded as nothing.

With you is wisdom who knows your works, who was present when you made the world and comprehends what is pleasing in your eyes, and what is right in accord with your commands. O send her forth from the holy heavens, dispatch her from your throne of glory,  that she may be with me and labour at my side, and I may know what is pleasing to you.

For she knows and understands all things, and she will prudently guide me in my actions, and will keep guard over me with her glory.  Wisdom 9:1-6,9-11


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