A reading from the book of Exodus. Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jericho,

the priest of Midian, leading the flock across the desert, and he came to Horib, the mountain of God.

There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire, flaming out of a bush.

As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed.

So Moses decided, I must go over and look at this remarkable sight

and see why the bush is not burned. When the Lord saw

him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush. Moses, Moses,

and he answered, here I am. And God said, come no nearer, because remove the sandals from your feet,

for the place where you stand is holy ground.

I am the God of your father, he continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.

The cry to the children of Israel has reached me and I have truly noted the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Come now. I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people,

the children of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt? He answered, I will be with you. And this shall be

your proof that it is I who have sent you. When you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain.

The word of the Lord.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all my being, bless His Holy Name.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all my being, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities.

He heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction.

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