First ReadingExodus 3:1-6, 9-12
From the Book of Exodus
1Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro,his father-in-law,the priest of Midian,and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness,and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.2The Lord’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush.He looked, and behold,the bush burned with fire,and the bush was not consumed.3Moses said, “I will go now,and see this great sight,why the bush is not burned.”
4When the Lord saw that he came over to see,God called to him out of the middle of the bush,and said, “Moses! Moses!”
He said, “Here I am.”
5He said, “Don’t come close.Take off your sandals,for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father,the God of Abraham,the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. verses 7–8 are not read9Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me.Moreover I have seen the oppression withwhich the Egyptians oppress them.10Come now therefore,and I will send you to Pharaoh,that you may bring my people,the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11Moses said to God,“Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh,and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12He said, “Certainly I will be with you.This will be the token to you, that I have sent you:when you have brought the people out of Egypt,you shall serve God on this mountain.”