Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’ Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, ‘See the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with…
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Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. From Exodus 20:1-7 NRSV In today’s reading we hear about the Decalogue or Ten Commandments as given to Moses on Mount Sinai. For many…
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Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of…
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The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’ From Exodus 16:1-5,9-15, NRSV In the second month after their miraculous escape from the…
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We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. From 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15 NRSV This is a beautiful and reassuring image. All of us have gifts and each of us is given many opportunities to use them…
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But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.’ From Exodus 14:5-18, NRSV No sooner had the Pharaoh sanctioned the…
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Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness,and with great forbearance you govern us;for you have power to act whenever you choose. Through such works you have taught your peoplethat the righteous must be kind,and you have filled your children with good hope,because you give repentance for sins. From Wisdom 12:13,16-19 In the…
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Upon my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves;I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.‘I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares;I will seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him, but found him not. From…
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This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. From Exodus 11:10-12:14, NRSV The ten plagues that had been sent to Egypt had not persuaded the Pharaoh to release the people of Israel from…
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God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”.…
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