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14-March-2010
Mothering Sunday
First Reading (Exodus 2. 1-10)
A man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman
conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid
him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus
basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child
in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister
stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of
Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside
the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.
When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on
him, 'This must be one of the Hebrews' children,' she said. Then his sister
said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew
women to nurse the child for you?' Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Yes.' So
the girl went and called the child's mother. Pharaoh's daughter said to her,
'Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.' So
the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought
him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses,
'because,' she said, 'I drew him out of the water.'
Psalm 127. 1-4
R "The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your
coming in."
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord keeps the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. R
It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early and go so late to rest,
eating the bread of toil, for he gives his beloved sleep. Children are a
heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his gift. R
Second Reading (2 Corinthians 1. 3-7)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our
affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any
affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our
consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for
your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your
consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same
sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we
know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our
consolation.
Gospel (Luke 2. 33-35)
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about
Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, 'This child is
destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign
that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed -
and a sword will pierce your own soul too.'
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