Uitnodiging

Mag ik hiermee Uw aandacht vragen voor
het dagelijks lezen van het Evangelie?

Deze uitnodiging wil U deelgenoot maken aan de vreugde
van het evangelie. Iedereen, niemand uitgezonderd,
kan die vreugde ervaren door zijn hart open te stellen
voor de genezende werking van Gods woord.

Elke dag ter beschikking

Overweging

De voortzetting van de evangelielezing wijst op de mogelijke verharding in het ongeloof. Men kan zich sluiten voor God. In contrast daarmee staat de eerste lezing: ommekeer is steeds mogelijk. Mozes is hier de grote voorspreker en hij plaatst drie motieven tegenover Gods toorn.
– Gij hebt het volk uit Egypte geleid. Laat ge het nu in de steek?
– De Egyptenaren zullen zich vrolijk maken en U honen
(dit komt ook elders voor in het O.T.).
– Tenslotte herinnert hij God aan zijn belofte en het Verbond.
Conclusie: God herbegint steeds met zijn volk, vroeger en nu.

EERSTE LEZING                Ex. 32, 7-14
Zie af, Heer, van het onheil waarmee Gij uw volk bedreigt.

Uit het Boek Exodus

In die tijd sprak de Heer tot Mozes :
“Ga naar beneden, want het volk dat gij uit Egypte hebt geleid
is tot zonde vervallen.
“Ze zijn nu al afgeweken
van de weg die Ik hun had voorgeschreven :
Ze hebben een stierenbeeld gemaakt,
ze buigen zich daarvoor neer,
ze dragen er offers voor op en schreeuwen :
Israël, dit is de god die u uit Egypte heeft geleid.”
Ook sprak de Heer tot Mozes :
“Ik zie nu hoe halsstarrig dit volk is.
“Laat Mij begaan,
dan kan Ik hen in mijn brandende toorn vernietigen.
“Maar van u zal Ik een groot volk maken.”
Mozes trachtte de Heer, zijn God, gunstig te stemmen en vroeg:
“Waarom Heer, uw toorn laten woeden tegen het volk
dat Gij met grote kracht en sterke hand uit Egypte hebt geleid ?
“Waarom de Egyptenaren laten honen :
Hij heeft ze laten gaan
met de boze opzet ze in de bergen te laten omkomen
en ze van de aarde weg te vagen ?
“Laat toch uw toorn niet langer tegen hen woeden.
“Zie af van het onheil waarmee Gij uw volk bedreigt.
“Denk aan uw dienaren Abraham, Isaäk en Israël,
aan wie Gij onder ede beloofd hebt :
Ik zal uw nageslacht talrijk maken als sterren aan de hemel,
en heel het land waarover Ik heb gesproken,
zal Ik uw nakomelingen voor altijd in bezit geven.
“Het zal voor eeuwig hun erfdeel zijn.”
Toen zag de Heer af
van het onheil waarmee Hij zijn volk had bedreigd.

TUSSENZANG                Ps. 106(105), 19-20, 21-22, 23

Vergeet mij niet, Heer, die uw volk welgezind zijt.

Zij maakten een heilig kalf bij de Horeb
en wierpen zich neer voor een gietsel van goud.
Hun Glorie ruilden zij tegen een afgod,
het beeld van een grasetend rund.

Zij waren vergeten dat God hen gered had,
Hij die in Egypte zijn macht had getoond ;
die wonderdaden verricht had in Cham
en bij de Rietzee verbazende dingen.

Hij dacht er al aan hen los te laten
toen Mozes, zijn vriend, tussenbeide kwam.
Die pleitte voor hen om hen niet te verdelgen
en wendde Gods toorn van hen af.

VERS VOOR HET EVANGELIE                Mt. 4,17

Bekeert u, zegt de Heer,
want het Rijk der hemelen is nabij.

EVANGELIE                       Joh. 5, 31-47

Mozes, op wie gij uw hoop hebt gesteld, is het die u aanklaagt.

Uit het heilig evangelie van onze Heer Jezus Christus volgens Johannes

In die tijd sprak Jezus tot de Joden :
“Als Ik over Mijzelf getuig,
dan heeft mijn getuigenis geen waarde.
“Er is een Ander die over Mij getuigt,
en Ik weet
dat de getuigenis die Hij over Mij aflegt geloofwaardig is.
“Gij hebt een gezantschap naar Johannes gestuurd
en deze heeft getuigd voor de waarheid.
“Weliswaar behoef Ik de getuigenis van een mens niet,
maar Ik zeg dit
opdat gij gered zult worden.
“Hij was de lamp, ontstoken om te verlichten,
en een korte tijd hebt gij u in zijn licht willen verheugen.
“De getuigenis echter die Ik bezit
is waardevoller dan die van Johannes :
Want het zijn juist de werken
die de Vader Mij gegeven heeft om te volbrengen
en die Ik ook volbreng,
die van Mij getuigen, dat Ik door de Vader gezonden ben.
“Ook de Vader zelf die Mij zond
heeft getuigenis over Mij afgelegd.
“Zijn stem hebt gij nimmer gehoord noch zijn gestalte gezien,
en zijn woord hebt gij niet blijvend in u
omdat gij Degene die Hij zond niet gelooft.
“Gij onderzoekt de Schriften
in de mening daarin eeuwig leven te vinden,
maar juist deze getuigen over Mij.
“En toch wilt gij niet tot Mij komen
om het leven te vinden.
“Ik zoek niet door de mensen geëerd te worden,
maar Ik weet
dat gij in uw hart geen liefde tot God hebt.
“Ik ben gekomen in de naam van mijn Vader
en toch aanvaardt gij Mij niet.
“Komt een ander in zijn eigen naam
dan zult gij hem wel aanvaarden.
“Maar hoe zoudt gij ook kunnen geloven
als gij van elkaar eer tracht te verwerven,
terwijl gij de eer die van de enige God komt niet zoekt ?
“Meent niet, dat Ik u bij de Vader zal aanklagen.
“Er is al iemand die u aanklaagt :
Mozes, op wie gij uw hoop hebt gesteld.
“Want als ge Mozes zoudt geloven
zoudt ge ook Mij geloven,
want juist over Mij heeft hij geschreven.
“Als ge niet gelooft wat hij schreef
hoe zoudt ge dan geloven wat Ik spreek ?”

---

Laudato Si 

Encycliek van

PAUS FRANCISCUS 

Over de zorg voor het gemeenschappelijk huis 

118. Deze situatie brengt ons tot een permanente schizofrenie, die gaat van een technocratische vervoering, die andere wezens geen eigen waarde toekent, tot een reactie van ontkenning van elke bijzondere waarde aan de mens. Maar men kan de mensheid niet buiten beschouwing laten. Er is geen nieuwe relatie met de natuur zonder een nieuwe mens. Er is geen ecologie zonder een adequate antropologie. Wanneer de mens slechts wordt beschouwd als een wezen zoals andere, voortkomend uit het spel van het toeval of een fysisch determinisme, “(dreigt) het bewustzijn van de mens te verminderen”. Een scheef antropocentrisme moet niet noodzakelijk voorafgaan aan een “biocentrisme”, want dat zou een nieuwe onevenwichtigheid introduceren die niet alleen geen problemen oplost, maar er nog andere aan toevoegt. Men kan van de mens geen inzet voor de wereld verlangen als men niet tegelijkertijd zijn bijzondere vermogens van kennis, wil, vrijheid en verantwoordelijkheid erkent en waardeert.

Wordt vervolgd

 

De bijbeltekst in deze uitgave is ontleend aan De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Overwegingen uit Liturgische suggesties voor de weekdagen en de zondagen
Laudato Si Officiële Nederlandse vertaling

---

 

 

 Invitation

May I hereby call your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration

The continuation of the Gospel reading points to the possible hardening in unbelief. One can close oneself to God. The first reading contrasts with this: Reversal is always possible. Moses is the great intercessor here and he juxtaposes three motives with God’s wrath.
– Thou hast led the people out of Egypt. Will you now abandon it?
– The Egyptians will make merry and honour thee
 (this also occurs elsewhere in the O.T.).
– Finally, he reminds God of His promise and the Covenant.
Conclusion: God always restarts with his people, past and present.

 

FIRST READING   Ex. 32, 7-14
Renounce, Lord, from the calamity with which You threaten your people.

From the Book of Exodus

At that time the Lord spoke to Moses :
“Go down, for the people whom thou hast led out of Egypt
has fallen into sin.
“Already now they have departed
from the way which I had prescribed for them :
They have made an image of bulls ,
they bow down before it,
they offer sacrifices before it and shout :
Israel, this is the God who led you out of Egypt.”
Also, the Lord spoke to Moses :
“I see now how obstinate this people is.
“Let Me pass,
then I can destroy them in my burning wrath.
“But of you I will make a great nation.”
Moses sought to appease the Lord his God and asked:
“Why Lord, let thy wrath rage against the people
whom Thou hast led out of Egypt with great power and strong hand ?
“Why let the Egyptians sneer :
He has let them go
with the evil purpose of making them perish in the mountains
and to wipe them from the earth ?
“Yet let not your wrath rage against them any longer.
“Abandon the calamity with which Thou threatenest Thy people.
“Remember thy servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
to whom thou hast promised under oath :
I will make thy posterity numerous as stars in the sky ,
and all the land of which I have spoken,
I will give your descendants possession of it forever.
“It shall be their inheritance forever.”
Then the Lord renounced
from the calamity with which He had threatened his people.

RESPONSORIAL   Ps. 106(105), 19-20, 21-22, 23

Do not forget me, Lord, who is well pleased with your people.

They made a holy calf at Horeb
and threw themselves down before a casting of gold.
Their glory they exchanged for an idol,
the image of a grass-eating ox.

They had forgotten that God had saved them,
who had shown his power in Egypt;
who had performed miracles at Cham
and at the Red Sea amazing things.

He was already thinking of letting them go
when Moses, his friend, intervened.
He pleaded with them not to be destroyed
and turned God’s wrath away from them.

VERSE FOR THE GOSPEL         Mt. 4,17

Repent, says the Lord,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

GOSPEL           John 5, 31-47

Moses, on whom you have put your hope, it is he who charges you.

From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

At that time Jesus spoke to the Jews :
“If I testify about Myself ,
then my testimony has no value.
“There is another who testifies about Me ,
and I know
that the testimony He bears about Me is credible.
“You sent an envoy to John
and this one has testified for the truth.
“Though I do not need the testimony of any man ,
but I say this
that ye may be saved.
“He was the lamp, kindled to lighten,
and for a short time ye rejoiced in his light.
“The testimony, however, which I possess
is more valuable than that of John :
For it is the very works
that the Father has given Me to accomplish
and which I also accomplish,
which testify of Me that I am sent by the Father.
“Also the Father Himself who sent Me
has borne witness concerning Me.
“His voice hast thou never heard nor seen his form,
and his word ye have not abiding in you
because ye believe not the One Whom He sent.
“Ye search the scriptures
thinking you will find eternal life in them,
but these very ones testify about Me.
“And yet you will not come to Me
to find life.
“I do not seek to be honored by men,
but I know
that in your hearts ye have no love to God.
“I have come in the name of my Father
and yet ye accept Me not.
“If another comes in his own name
you will accept him.
“But how can ye believe
if ye seek honor from one another,
but seek not the glory that comes from the only God?
“Think not that I will accuse thee to the Father.
“There is already one who accuses you :
Moses, on whom ye have put your hope.
“For if you believed Moses
you would also believe Me,
for it is about Me that he has written.
“If you do not believe what he wrote
how will you believe what I speak?”

_____________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclic of

POPE FRANCIS

On the care of the common home

118. This situation leads us to a permanent schizophrenia, which goes from a technocratic rapture, which does not assign other beings any value of their own, to a reaction of denying any special value to the human being. But one cannot discount humanity. There will be no new relationship with nature without a new human being. There is no ecology without an adequate anthropology. When the human person is considered only as one more being like others, arising from the play of chance or a physical determinism, “(the) conscience of human beings is in danger of diminishing the consciousness of responsibility”. A skewed anthropocentrism should not necessarily precede a “biocentrism”, because that would introduce a new imbalance that not only fails to solve problems, but adds others. One cannot demand a commitment from human beings to the world if one does not at the same time recognise and value their special faculties of knowledge, will, freedom and responsibility.

To be continued        

 

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation

 

EERSTE LEZING                Jes. 49, 8-15

 

Invitation

May I hereby call your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration
The uniqueness of Jesus and his relationship with the Father are further developed after the event with the paralytic. But we look briefly at the first reading. In rich imagery, there is talk here of the end of the exile, of protection on the retreat, of the division of the land as at the time of the entry. In short, there is a clear allusion to the first Exodus from Egypt. The last verse is particularly poignant. “Can a woman forget her infant? Does not a mother have more to do with the child of her womb? And though a mother would forget her child, no, I never forget you!”

FIRST READING   Isa. 49, 8-15

I will form you and make you the man of the covenant, to restore the land.

From the Prophet Isaiah

Thus speaks the Lord :
“In the time of my good pleasure I hear you,
in the day of salvation I will come to your aid.
“I will form you and make you
the man of the covenant,
to restore the land,
to redivide the crumbling land,
to say to the captive : “Come out!
and to those who sit in darkness : “Show yourselves!
“Along the roads they shall pasture,
on the barren ground they shall graze.
“They will suffer no hunger or thirst,
no scorching wind, no burning sun to harm them,
for the One who takes care of them,
He guides them,
He brings them to the springs of water.
“Of all my mountains I make lanes
and my paths are made smooth.
“There are some who come from afar ;
others come from the north and from the sea side ,
and others from Sinim.
“Heavens, rejoice, and you, earth, rejoice!
“Mountains, break out in jubilation,
for the Lord has come to comfort his people,
to have mercy on his poor faithful.
“Zion thinks : ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
my God has forgotten me.’
“Can a woman forget her infant?
“Does not a mother have more to do
with the child of her womb?
“And if a mother should forget her child,
no, I will never forget you.”

INTERLUDIUM   Ps. 145(144), 8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

The Lord is full of love and compassion.

The Lord is full of love and compassion,
longsuffering and most gracious.
The Lord is concerned for every person,
merciful to all that He made.

True is God in all his words
and holy in all that He does.
The Lord supports those who are in danger of falling,
raises up those who are weighed down.

The Lord is just in all his ways,
and holy in all he does.
The Lord is near to every one who calls upon Him,
to each one that sincerely prays to Him.

VERSE FOR THE GOSPEL   John 6, 64b and 69b

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life ;
your words are words of eternal life.

GOSPEL   John 5, 17-30

As the Father raises the dead and makes them alive ,
so also the Son makes alive whom He wills.

From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John

At that time
Jesus defended himself against the Jews with the words :
“To this day
my Father is continually at work
and I too do not cease from working.”
For this reason the Jews were even more eager to kill Him :
After all, He was not only violating the Sabbath ,
but He even called God his own Father
and thereby made himself equal to God.
At this Jesus again took the floor and spoke :
“Verily, verily, I say unto you :
The Son can do nothing of himself
but only that which He sees the Father doing.
“And everything that the Father does
does the Son in like manner.
“Yet the Father loves the Son
and shows Him all that He does.
“Even greater works than these will He show Him,
so that ye may be amazed.
“For as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive,
so also the Son quickeneth whom He will.
“The Father judges no one,
but He has
placed judgment entirely in the hands of the Son,
so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father.
“He who does not honor the Son
neither honors the Father who sent Him.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you :
He who listens to my word
and believes in Him who sent Me,
has eternal life and is not subject to judgment ;
for he has already passed from death to life.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you :
There shall come an hour, yea it is already here,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God
and they that hear it shall live.
“As the Father has life in Himself,
He also gave to the Son
to have life in Himself.
“He has given Him power to execute judgment ;
for He is the Son of Man.
“Do not marvel at this :
There will come an hour
when all who are in the graves
will hear his voice.
“Then those who did good
will come out of it to the resurrection to life,
but those who did evil will come out until the resurrection to judgment.
“I can do nothing by Myself :
I judge according to what I hear
and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of Him who sent Me.”

_______________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclic by

POPE FRANCIS

On the care of the common home 

117. The lack of concern to measure the damage to nature and the impact of decisions on the environment is only a clear reflection of an interest in recognising the message written in the very structures of nature. If one does not recognise in reality itself the importance of a poor person, of a human embryo, of someone with a disability – to name a few examples -, one will find it difficult to hear the cries of nature. Everything is interconnected. If the human being declares himself independent of reality and makes himself the absolute ruler, then the very basis of his existence crumbles, because “instead of fulfilling his role as God’s collaborator in the work of creation, man puts himself in God’s place and thus ultimately incites the revolt of nature”.

 

To be continued

 

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation

 

Invitation

May I hereby call your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.

Available every day.

CONSIDERATION

Since the Church Fathers, people have already sought a symbolic explanation for those 38 years, including a reference to the chosen people’s journey from the desert to their salvation (Deut. 2:14). In fact, one sees here
(as in many other stories, e.g. Nicodemus, the Samaritan, the bread speech) the typical Johannine double bottom or initial misunderstanding after which the deeper meaning then follows.
Indeed, the paralytic understands the question as if Jesus wants to help him get into the bath. The deeper sense is (of course) that Jesus is the only one who can save him.

FIRST READING              Ez. 47, 1-9.12

I saw water flowing from the temple, and all who touched the water were saved.

From the Prophet Ezekiel

The angel of the Lord brought me back
to the entrance of the temple.
There I saw how from under the threshold of the temple there
was water flowing in an easterly direction :
For the front of the temple was facing east.
The water flowed under the right wing of the temple,
on the side of the altar.
Then he led me out through the north gate.
He led me out to the east side :
The water flowed from under the right wing.
Then, with a ruler in his hand,
he continued in an easterly direction.
He measured a distance of a thousand cubits
and then made me step through the water :
It reached up to my ankles.
Again he measured a thousand cubits
and made me wade through the water :
It came up to my knees;
and he measured another thousand cubits
and made me wade through the water again :
Now it came to my waist.
When he had measured another thousand cubits
the water had become a river
I could no longer wade through it;
the water was so deep that one could not walk through it,
but only by swimming.
Then he asked me:
“Do you see that, human child?”
Then he led me back
along the bank of the river.
As he led me back I saw
on both sides of the river
many trees.
The angel of the Lord said to me :
“The river flows to the plain in the east,
and then it flows to the Araba,
and then it flows into the Salt Sea.
From which the water becomes drinkable.
“Wherever the river flows
the aquatic animals will be able to stay alive.
There will be lots of fish,
because wherever the river goes
the water will become drinkable,
and everything will stay alive.
“On both banks of the river
all kinds of fruit trees will grow
whose leaves will not wither ,
and the fruits will not run out;
for the trees will bear fruit every month.
“After all, they will be fed with water from the temple.
“The fruit will serve as food
and the leaves as medicine.”

INTERLUDIUM   Ps. 46(45), 2-3, 5-6, 8-9

The Lord of the heavenly armies is with us,
a safe fortress is our Jacob’s God.

The Lord is to us a fortress and refuge,
a mighty help in trouble.
Thus we are not afraid, though the earth tip over,
though the mountains fall into the sea.

A gurgling brook refreshes God’s city,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
That city stands unwavering, for God is within it,
God stands by her side as the day dawns.

The Lord of the heavenly armies is with us,
a safe fortress is our God of Jacob.
Come near and see what the Lord has done,
his wondrous works on earth.

VERSE FOR THE GOSPEL Ez. 33, 11

I am not pleased with the death of a wicked man,
saith the Lord,
but rather in him that repenteth and liveth.

GOSPEL   John 5, 1-3a.5-16

At once the man became healthy.

From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John

Because there was a feast of the Jews,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate there is a bathing establishment,
called Bezeta in Hebrew,
with five colonnades.
In those corridors there was always a large number of deficient people.
Now there was a man there who had been deficient for thirty-eight years.
Jesus saw him lying there
and because He knew that he had been lying like that for a long time He said to him :
“Do you want to get well?”
The sick man answered Him :
“Lord, I have no one to bring me
into the bathtub
when the water is moved,
and while I go
another before me descends into it.”
Thereupon Jesus said to him :
“Arise, take up your bed and walk.”
Instantly the man became healthy.
He took up his bed and walked.
However, that day was the Sabbath
and therefore the Jews said to the healed man :
“It is Sabbath ,
you may not carry your bed.”
To this he answered them :
“Who made me well told me :
Take up your bed and walk!”
Therefore they asked him :
“Who is this man who said to you :
Take up your bed and walk?”
The healed one did not know who it was,
for Jesus had withdrawn unnoticed
because there were many people at the scene.
Later Jesus encountered him in the temple and spoke to him :
“Behold, you are now healed!
“Sin no more
lest anything worse happen to you.”
The man went and told the Jews
that it was Jesus who had healed him.
Because Jesus did such things on the Sabbath
the Jews began to persecute Him.

__________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclic of

POPE FRANCIS

On the care of the common home 

116. In modern times, there has been a remarkable anthropocentric excessiveness that, in a different guise, continues to undermine any reference to anything common and any attempt to strengthen social bonds. The time has therefore come to pay renewed attention to reality with its limits, which in turn represent the possibility of healthier and more fruitful human and social development. An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology has ultimately fostered a misconception of man’s relationship with the world. A Promethean dream of ruling the world has often been passed on, which has given the impression that care for nature is something for weak characters. In contrast, a correct interpretation of the idea of man as lord of the universe is to understand this as responsible stewardship.

 

To be continued

 

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation

_________________________________________________________________________

 

St Joseph, like his holy bride Mary, was of David’s
tribe and therefore also of royal blood.

Invitation

May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
of the Gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day

Consideration
The image we have of St Joseph became somewhat distorted over time. We think of him as the one who stood somewhat in Mary’s shadow. He had only ‘a supporting role’ many think. In doing so, are we not doing this beautiful figure an injustice? Joseph’s role in salvation history is exceptional. His father role in the life of Jesus should not be underestimated. Letting God work discreetly in your life, even when it causes difficulties, is a basic attitude that should be every believer’s own. Letting God into your daily doings: Is there a better way to salvation? Staying in the background and yet being great in faith. Isn’t that what many simple-minded people try to do? Caring for those entrusted to you and seeing in them a divine mission: It adorns Joseph.

 

FIRST READING       2 Sam. 7, 4-5a.12-14a.16

God the Lord will grant him the throne of his father David (Lk 1:32).

From the second Book of Samuel

In those days
the word of the Lord was addressed to the prophet Natan :
“Say to my servant David :
Thus speaks the Lord :
When thy days are ended
and thou rest with thy fathers,
will I exalt the descendant whom thou begot,
exalt high and uphold his royal power.
“He shall build a house in honour of My name
and I will keep his royal throne
uphold forever.
“I will be his father and he will be my son.
“So your house and your royal power will
stand forever ;
your throne will stand firm forever.”

INTERLUDIUM     Ps 89(88), 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

His posterity will remain forever.

Your favours, Lord, I want to sing,
proclaim your faithfulness to every generation.
You have said: My favour endures forever,
heaven is the foundation of my faithfulness.

I have made a covenant with David,
promised my chosen servant with an oath :
I will uphold thy posterity forever,
in all ages thy throne shall endure.

He shall call upon me : Thou art my Father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.
Forever he can count on my mercy,
forever my covenant with him remains in force.

 

SECOND READING      Rom. 4, 13.16-18.22

Against all hope, he hoped.

From the letter of the holy apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome

Brothers and sisters,

The promise made to Abraham and his descendants
that they would inherit the world,
rests not on the law
but on the righteousness of faith.
Therefore, it depends on faith
and therefore on grace
and the promise is assured for all posterity,
not only for those who have received the law
but for all who follow the faith
of all our father Abraham.
After all, of him it is written :
“I have made thee father of many nations”.
He is this before the face of God,
in whom he has believed,
who makes the dead alive
and resurrects what does not exist.
Against all hope, he has hoped
and believed that he would become the father of many nations,
as it was said to him :
“So numerous shall thy posterity be.”
Therefore, it was imputed to him as righteousness.

 

VERS FOR THE GOSPEL       Ps. 84(83), 5

Alleluia.
Happy those who dwell in Your house, O Lord,
who may praise You there always.
Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL        Mt 1:16,18-21,24a

Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,
and of her was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way :
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph
she appeared, before they went to live together,
pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph, her husband, was righteous
and did not want to compromise her,
he considered
quietly divorcing her.
While he was contemplating this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
who spoke to him :
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, to yourself ;
the child in her womb is of the Holy Spirit.
“She will give birth to a son whom you must name Jesus ,
for He will save His people from their sins.”
Awakened from sleep
Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

______________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclic of

POPE FRANCIS

On caring for the common home

Crisis and consequences of modern anthropocentrism 

115. Modern anthropocentrism has ended up paradoxically placing technical reason above reality, because this human being “no longer feels nature as a valid norm, nor as a living refuge. It sees it objectively, without hypothesis, as space and matter within which a work must be accomplished on which one must throw oneself completely, and it does not matter what the result will be.”  Thus, the intrinsic value of the world is trivialised. But if man does not rediscover its true place, it adequately fails to understand itself and ultimately contradicts its own reality. “Not only is the earth given to man, who must use it respecting its original purpose, according to which it was given to him as a good, but also man is given to himself by God and he must therefore respect the natural and moral structure with which he is endowed.”

 

To be continued

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Uitnodiging

Mag ik hiermee Uw aandacht vragen voor
het dagelijks lezen van het Evangelie?

Deze uitnodiging wil U deelgenoot maken aan de vreugde
van het evangelie. Iedereen, niemand uitgezonderd,
kan die vreugde ervaren door zijn hart open te stellen
voor de genezende werking van Gods woord.

Iedere dag beschikbaar.

Openingswoord

We zijn halfweg in de veertigdagentijd.
[Vandaag vieren wij met roze gewaden,
want het wit van Pasen schijnt reeds
doorheen het paarse van deze periode.]

Wij worden uitgenodigd om te zien,
om het licht te zien dat Jezus is.
Hij wil een licht zijn en licht brengen.
Wat hebben wij in Hem gezien?
Zien wij in Hem meer dan een profeet?
Bidden we dat Hij vandaag onze ogen opent
voor de weg die Hij met ons wil gaan
en laten we ook hen nabij zijn
voor wie de actie Broederlijk Delen
onze aandacht vraagt.

EERSTE LEZING         I Sam. 16, 1b.6-7.10-13a

David wordt gezalfd tot koning over Israël.

Uit het eerste boek Samuël:

In die dagen zei de Heer tot Samuël:
“Vul een hoorn met olie:
Ik zend u naar Isaï, de Betlehemiet,
want een van zijn zonen heb Ik voor het koningschap bestemd.”

Toen Samuël daar aankwam, viel zijn blik op Eliab en hij dacht:
Die daar voor de Heer staat, is ongetwijfeld zijn gezalfde!
Maar de Heer zei tot Samuël:
“Ga niet af op zijn voorkomen of zijn rijzige gestalte;
hem wil Ik niet.
“Want God ziet niet zoals een mens ziet;
een mens kijkt naar het uiterlijk,
maar de Heer naar het hart.”
Zo stelde Isaï zeven van zijn zonen aan Samuël voor,
maar Samuël zei tot Isaï:
“Geen van hen heeft de Heer uitverkoren.”
Daarop vroeg hij aan Isaï:
“Zijn dat al uw jongens ?’
En deze antwoordde:
“Alleen de jongste ontbreekt; die hoedt de schapen.”

Toen zei Samuël tot Isaï:
“Laat die dan halen, want we gaan niet aan tafel
voordat hij hier is.”
Isaï liet hem dus halen.
De jongen was rossig,
had mooie ogen en een prettig voorkomen.
Nu zei de Heer:
“Hem moet gij zalven: Hij is het.”
Samuël nam dus de hoorn met olie
en zalfde hem te midden van zijn broers.
Sedert die dag
was de geest van de Heer vaardig over David.

Antwoordpsalm                Ps. 23(22), 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Keervers
De Heer is mijn herder,
niets kom ik tekort.

De Heer is mijn herder, niets kom ik tekort;
Hij laat mij weiden op groene velden.
Hij brengt mij aan water, waar ik kan rusten,
Hij geeft mij weer frisse moed.

Mijn schreden leidt Hij langs rechte paden
omwille van zijn Naam.
Al voert mijn weg door donkere kloven,
ik vrees geen onheil waar Gij mij leidt.
Uw stok en uw herdersstaf
geven mij moed en vertrouwen.

Gij nodigt mij aan uw tafel
tot ergernis van mijn bestrijders.
Met olie zalft Gij mijn hoofd,
mijn beker is overvol.

Voorspoed en zegen verlaten mij nooit,
elke dag van mijn leven.
Het huis van de Heer zal mijn woning zijn
voor alle komende tijden.

 

TWEEDE     LEZING                     Ef. 5, 8-14

Sta op uit de dood en Christus’ licht zal over u stralen.

Uit de brief van de heilige apostel Paulus aan de christenen van Efeze

Broeders en zusters,

Eens waart gij duisternis,
nu zijt gij licht door uw gemeenschap met de Heer.
Leeft dan ook als kinderen van het licht.
De vrucht van het licht kan alleen maar zijn:
Goedheid, gerechtigheid, waarheid.
Tracht te ontdekken wat de Heer behaagt.
Neemt geen deel aan duistere en onvruchtbare praktijken,
brengt ze liever aan het licht.
Wat die mensen in het geheim doen,
is te schandelijk om er ook maar over te spreken.
Alles echter wat aan het licht wordt gebracht,
komt in het licht tot helderheid.
En alles wat verhelderd wordt,
is zelf “licht” geworden.
Zo zegt de hymne:
“Ontwaak, slaper,
sta op uit de dood
en Christus’ licht zal over u stralen.”

 

Vers voor het evangelie                 Joh. 8, 12b

Lof en eer zij U, Heer Jezus.
Ik ben het licht van de wereld, zegt de Heer,
wie Mij volgt, zal het levenslicht bezitten.
Lof en eer zij U, Heer Jezus.

 

EVANGELIE                   Joh. 9, 1-41

Hij ging, waste zich en kwam ziende terug.

Uit het heilig evangelie van onze Heer Jezus Christus volgens Johannes

In die tijd zag Jezus in het voorbijgaan een man die blind was
van zijn geboorte af.

Zijn leerlingen vroegen Hem:
“Rabbi, wie heeft gezondigd,
hijzelf of zijn ouders,
dat hij blind geboren werd?”

Jezus antwoordde:
“Noch hij, noch zijn ouders hebben gezondigd,
maar de werken Gods moeten in hem openbaar worden.
“Wij moeten de werken van Hem die Mij gezonden heeft,
verrichten zolang het dag is.
“Er komt een nacht
en dan kan niemand werken.
“Zolang Ik in de wereld ben,
ben Ik het licht van de wereld.”
Toen Hij dit gezegd had,
spuwde Hij op de grond,
maakte met het speeksel slijk,
bestreek daarmee de ogen van de man
en zei tot hem:
“Ga u wassen in de vijver van Siloam,”
-wat betekent: gezondene-.
De blinde ging ernaar toe, waste zich
en kwam er ziende vandaan.
Zijn buren nu
en degenen die hem vroeger hadden zien bedelen, zeiden:
“Is dat niet de man, die zat te bedelen ?”
Sommigen zeiden:
“Inderdaad, hij is het.”
Anderen:
“Neen, hij lijkt alleen maar op hem.”
Hijzelf zei:
“Ik ben het.”

Toen vroegen ze hem:
“Hoe zijn dan uw ogen geopend ?”
Hij antwoordde:
“De man die Jezus heet, maakte slijk,
bestreek daarmee mijn ogen en zei tot mij:
Ga naar de Siloam en was u.
“Ik ben dus gegaan, waste mij en kon zien.”
Ze vroegen hem toen:
“Waar is die man ?”
Hij zei:
“Ik weet het niet.”

Men bracht nu de man die blind geweest was,
bij de Farizeeën;
de dag waarop Jezus slijk had gemaakt en zijn ogen geopend,
was namelijk een sabbat.
Ook de Farizeeën vroegen hem dus,
hoe hij het gezicht herkregen had.
Hij zei hun:
“De man die Jezus heet, deed slijk op mijn ogen,
ik waste mij en ik zie.”
Toen zeiden sommige Farizeeën:
“Die man komt niet van God,
want Hij onderhoudt de sabbat niet.”
Anderen zeiden:
“Hoe zou een zondig mens zulke tekenen kunnen doen?”
Zo was er verdeeldheid onder hen.
Zij richtten zich opnieuw tot de blinde en vroegen:
“Wat zegt gijzelf van Hem,
daar Hij u toch de ogen geopend heeft?”
Hij antwoordde:
“Het is een profeet.”

De joden wilden niet van hem aannemen,
dat hij blind was geweest en het gezicht herkregen had,
eer zij de ouders van de genezene hadden laten komen.
Zij stelden hun toen de vraag:
“Is dit uw zoon,
die volgens uw zeggen blind geboren is ?
“Hoe kan hij dan zien?”
Zijn ouders antwoordden:
“Wij weten dat dit onze zoon is
en dat hij blind is geboren,
maar hoe hij nu zien kan, weten we niet;
of wie zijn ogen geopend heeft,
wij weten het niet.
“Vraagt het hemzelf,
hij is oud genoeg
en zal zelf zijn woord wel doen.”
Zijn ouders zeiden dit omdat zij bang waren voor de joden,
want de joden hadden reeds afgesproken
dat al wie Jezus als Messias beleed,
uit de synagoge gebannen zou worden.
Daarom zeiden zijn ouders:
Hij is oud genoeg, vraagt het hemzelf.

Voor de tweede maal
riepen de Farizeeën nu de man die blind was geweest, bij zich
en zeiden hem:
“Geef eer aan God.
“Wij weten dat die man die Jezus heet, een zondaar is.”
Hij echter antwoordde:
“Of Hij een zondaar is, weet ik niet.
“Eén ding weet ik wel:
dat ik blind was en nu zie.”
Daarop vroegen zij hem wederom:
“Wat heeft Hij met u gedaan?
“Hoe heeft Hij uw ogen geopend ?”
Hij antwoordde:
“Dat heb ik al verteld, maar gij hebt niet geluisterd.
“Waarom wilt gij het opnieuw horen ?
“Wilt ook gij soms leerlingen van Hem worden ?”
Toen zeiden zij smalend tot hem:
“Jij bent een leerling van die man,
wij zijn leerlingen van Mozes.
“Wij weten dat God tot Mozes gesproken heeft,
maar van deze weten we niet waar Hij vandaan is.”
De man gaf hun ten antwoord:
“Dit is toch wel wonderlijk,
dat gij niet weet vanwaar Hij is;
en Hij heeft mij nog wel de ogen geopend.
“Wij weten dat God niet naar zondaars luistert,
maar als iemand godvrezend is en zijn wil doet,
dan luistert Hij naar zo iemand.
“Nooit in der eeuwigheid heeft men gehoord,
dat iemand de ogen van een blindgeborene heeft geopend.
“Als deze man niet van God kwam,
had Hij zoiets nooit kunnen doen.”

Zij voegden hem toe:
“In zonden ben je geboren,
zo groot als je bent,
en jij wilt ons de les lezen ?”
Toen wierpen ze hem buiten.

Jezus vernam dat men hem buitengeworpen had,

en toen Hij hem aantrof, zei Hij:
“Gelooft ge in de Mensenzoon ?”
Hij antwoordde:
“Wie is dat, Heer ?
“Dan zal ik in Hem geloven.”
Jezus zei hem:
“Gij ziet Hem,
het is degene die met u spreekt.”
Toen zei hij:
“Ik geloof, Heer,”
en hij wierp zich voor Hem neer.

En Jezus sprak:
“Tot een oordeel ben Ik in deze wereld gekomen,
opdat de niet-zienden zouden zien
en de zienden blind worden.”
Enkele Farizeeën die bij Hem stonden,
hoorden dit en zeiden tot Hem:
“Zijn wij soms blind ?”
Jezus antwoordde:
“Als gij blind waart, zoudt gij geen zonde hebben,
maar nu gij zegt: Wij zien,
blijft uw zonde.”

________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encycliek van

PAUS FRANCISCUS

Over de zorg voor het gemeenschappelijke huis

114. Wat er aan het gebeuren is, stelt ons voor de noodzaak in een moedige culturele revolutie voort te gaan. Wetenschap en techniek zijn niet neutraal, maar kunnen vanaf het begin tot het einde van een proces verschillende bedoelingen en mogelijkheden bevatten en op verschillende manieren gestalte krijgen. Niemand wil terugkeren naar het stenen tijdperk, maar het is noodzakelijk tempo terug te nemen om op een andere wijze naar de werkelijkheid te kijken, de positieve en houdbare ontwikkelingen te verzamelen en tegelijkertijd de waarden en grote doeleinden die door een megalomane ongeremdheid zijn vernietigd, weer terug te krijgen.

 

Wordt vervolgd

Invitation

May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with You the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Opening word

We are halfway through Lent.
[Today we celebrate with pink robes,
for the white of Easter is already shining
through the purple of this period].

We are invited to see,
to see the light that is Jesus.
He wants to be a light and bring light.
What have we seen in Him?
Do we see in Him more than a prophet?
Do we pray that He opens our eyes today
to the way He wants to go with us
and let us also be close to those
for whom the Brotherly Sharing
demands our attention.

FIRST READING        I Sam. 16, 1b.6-7.10-13a

David is anointed king over Israel.

From the first book of Samuel:

In those days the Lord said to Samuel:
“Fill a horn with oil:
I am sending you to Isaï the Bethlehemite ,
for one of his sons I have destined for kingship.”

When Samuel got there, his gaze fell on Eliab and he thought:
The one standing there before the Lord is undoubtedly his anointed one!
But the Lord said to Samuel:
“Do not go by his appearance or his tall stature;
him I will not.
“For God does not see as a man sees;
a man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
So Isaï presented seven of his sons to Samuel,
but Samuel said to Isaï:
“None of them the Lord has chosen.”
Thereupon he asked Isaï:
“Are these all your boys?
And the latter replied:
“Only the youngest is missing; he shepherds the sheep.”

Then Samuel said to Isaï:
“Then send for that one, for we will not go to table
until he is here.”
So Isaï sent for him.
The boy was reddish,
had beautiful eyes and a pleasant appearance.
Now the Lord said:
“Him thou must anoint: He is it.”
So Samuel took the horn with oil
and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.
Since that day
the spirit of the Lord was skilful over David.

Responsorial      Ps 23(22), 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Refrain
The Lord is my shepherd,
nothing do I lack.

The Lord is my shepherd, nothing am I lacking;
He makes me graze on green fields.
He brings me to water, where I can rest,
He restores my courage.

He guides my steps along straight paths
For his Name’s sake.
Though my path lead through dark gorges,
I fear no evil wherever You lead me.
Thy rod and thy staff
give me courage and confidence.

You invite me to your table
to the annoyance of my enemies.
With oil Thou anointest my head,
my cup is overflowing.

Prosperity and blessing never leave me
every day of my life.
The house of the Lord shall be my dwelling
for all times to come.

 

SECOND READING        Eph. 5, 8-14

Rise from the dead and Christ’s light will shine upon you.

From the letter of the holy apostle Paul to the Christians of Ephesus

Brothers and sisters,

Once ye were darkness,
now ye are light through your fellowship with the Lord.
Live therefore as children of light.
The fruit of light can only be:
Goodness, righteousness, truth.
Seek to discover what pleases the Lord.
Take no part in dark and unfruitful practices,
rather bring them to light.
What those people do in secret ,
is too shameful to even talk about.
Everything, however, that is brought to light,
comes to clarity in the light.
And everything that is clarified ,
has itself become “light”.
Thus says the hymn:
“Awake, sleeper,
rise from the dead
and Christ’s light will shine upon you.”

 

Verse for the gospel      John 8, 12b

Praise and honour be to You, Lord Jesus.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
Whoever follows Me will possess the light of life.
Praise and honour be to You, Lord Jesus.

 

GOSPEL       Jn 9:1-41

He went, washed himself and came back seeing.

From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

At that time Jesus saw in passing a man who was blind
from birth.

His disciples asked Him:
“Rabbi, who has sinned,
himself or his parents,
that he was born blind?”

Jesus replied:
“Neither he nor his parents have sinned ,
but the works of God must be made manifest in him.
“We must do the works of Him who sent Me,
perform as long as it is day.
“There will come a night
and then no one can work.
“As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.”
When He had said this,
He spat on the ground,
made mire with the saliva,
covered the man’s eyes with it
and said to him:
“Go wash yourselves in the pool of Siloam,”
-which means sent-
the blind man went there, washed himself
and came out of it sighted.
His neighbours now
and those who had seen him begging before, said:

“Isn’t that the man who was begging?”
Some said:
“Indeed, he is.”
Others:
“Nay, he only looks like him.”
He himself said:
“It is me.”

Then they asked him:
“Then how have your eyes been opened?”
He replied:
“The man called Jesus made ooze,
covered my eyes with it and said to me:
Go to the Siloam and wash thee.
“So I went, washed myself and could see.”
They then asked him:
“Where is that man?”
He said:
“I don’t know.”

One now brought the man who had been blind
to the Pharisees;
for the day on which Jesus had made mire and opened his eyes
was, in fact, a Sabbath.
So too the Pharisees asked him,
how he had regained the sight.
He said to them:
“The man called Jesus put mire on my eyes,
I washed and I see.”
Then some of the Pharisees said:
“That man is not from God,
for He does not keep the Sabbath.”
Others said:
“How could a sinful man do such signs?”
Thus there was division among them.
They again turned to the blind man and asked:
“What say ye yourselves of Him ,
since surely He has opened your eyes?”
He replied:
“It is a prophet.”

The Jews would not assume from him,
that he had been blind and had regained sight,
before they had sent for the healed man’s parents.
They then asked them the question:
“Is this your son ,
who you say was born blind?
“Then how can he see?”
His parents replied:
“We know that this is our son
and that he was born blind ,
but how he can see now, we do not know;
or who opened his eyes ,
we do not know.
“Ask him himself,
he is old enough
and will do his word himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews,
because the Jews had already agreed
that all those who confessed Jesus as Messiah,
would be banned from the synagogue.
Therefore, his parents said:
He is old enough, ask him yourself.

For the second time
the Pharisees now called the man who had been blind to them
and said to him:
“Give honour to God.
“We know that this man called Jesus is a sinner.”
He, however, replied:
“Whether He is a sinner, I do not know.
“One thing I do know:
That I was blind and now I see.”
Thereupon they asked him again:
“What has He done to you?
“How has He opened your eyes?”
He replied:
“I have already told you that, but ye have not listened.
“Why wilt thou hear it again?
“Wilt thou too sometimes become disciples of Him?”
Then they said smugly to him:
“Thou art a disciple of that man,
we are disciples of Moses.
“We know that God spoke to Moses ,
but of this one we do not know where He came from.”
The man replied to them:
“Surely this is wondrous,
that ye know not whence He is;
and He has yet opened my eyes.
“We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if someone fears God and does his will,
then He listens to such a person.
“Never in all eternity has it been heard,
that anyone opened the eyes of a blind man.
“If this man did not come from God,
He could never have done such a thing.”

They added to him:
“Into sins you were born,
as great as you are,
and you want to lecture us?”
Then they threw him out.

Jesus learned that they had thrown him out,

and when He found him, He said:
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He replied:
“Who is that, Lord?
“Then I will believe in Him.”
Jesus said to him:
“Thou seest Him ,
it is He who speaks to thee.”
Then he said:
“I believe, Lord,”
and he threw himself down before Him.

And Jesus spoke:
“To a judgment I have come into this world ,
that the unseen may see
and the seeing become blind.”
Some of the Pharisees who were standing by Him,
heard this and said to Him:
“Are we sometimes blind?”
Jesus replied:
“If ye were blind, ye would have no sin,
but now that ye say, we see ,
remains your sin.”

________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclic by

POPE FRANCIS

On caring for the common home

114. What is happening presents us with the need to move forward in a courageous cultural revolution. Science and technology are not neutral, but from the beginning to the end of a process can contain different intentions and possibilities and be shaped in different ways. No one wants to return to the stone age, but it is necessary to take pace back to look at reality in a different way, gather the positive and tenable developments while recovering the values and great purposes destroyed by megalomaniacal unrestraint.

 

To be continued

The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
_____________________________________________________________________________