SAINT John Plessington
Originally English, he was ordained in Segovia on 25 March 1662. He returned to England in 1663 ministering to Catholics in the areas of Holywell and Cheshire, often in hiding. He was arrested, imprisoned for two months, and then hanged, drawn and quartered for the crime of being a Catholic priest.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 16:15
As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.
Collect
O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path, give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Exodus 3:1-6,9-12
Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up. “I must go and look at this strange sight,” Moses said, “and see why the bush is not burnt.” Now the Lord saw him go forward to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush. “Moses, Moses!” he said. “Here I am,” Moses answered. “Come no nearer,” he said. “Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,” he said, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this Moses covered his face, afraid to look at God. And the Lord said, “The cry of the sons of Israel has come to me, and I have witnessed the way in which the Egyptians oppress them, so come, I send you to Pharaoh to bring the sons of Israel, my people, out of Egypt.” Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” “I shall be with you,” was the answer “and this is the sign by which you shall know that it is I who have sent you… After you have led the people out of Egypt, you are to offer worship to God on this mountain.”
Psalm 102(103):1-4,6-7
R/ The Lord is compassion and love.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.
It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgement for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to Israel’s sons.
Gospel Acclamation: Mt11:25
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27
Jesus exclaimed, “I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Look upon the offerings of the Church, O Lord, as she makes her prayer to you, and grant that, when consumed by those who believe, they may bring ever greater holiness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 83: 4-5
The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.
Prayer after Communion
Having consumed these gifts, we pray, O Lord, that, by our participation in this mystery, its saving effects upon us may grow. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Our meditation of today invites us to rejoice with Christ. The reason is simple: our Creator and Saviour has voluntarily decided to reveal himself to us. This breaks with the conception of a distant God whom no one could contemplate, as Moses and Elijah will experience. He allows himself to be known and becomes closer to us in the person of Jesus, so that to know him is to look at Christ with a heart that recognizes our lowliness before him. Lord, help us to know you more through your Son Jesus our Saviour, so that we may love and serve you better.