The holy bishops Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianze are considered the founders of Eastern Christian monasticism.
Invitation
May I draw your attention to the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wants you to share in the joy
of the gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening his heart
for the healing effect of God’s word.
Available every morning from 7 a.m.
Consideration
‘We must try to keep our minds calm. For just as an eye that ceaselessly looks everywhere and now looks aside and turns up and down again and again cannot clearly perceive what is nearby, so too the mind of man cannot possibly keep itself tightly focused on the truth when it is drawn everywhere by the thousands of worldly concerns. (…) When the mind does not focus on what comes from outside, and does not allow itself to be distracted by the senses, it returns to itself and rises out of itself to the Memoria Dei – the constant thought of God”.
(Letter of St Basil to Gregory of Nazianze)
FIRST READING I Jn. 2, 22-28
Ensures that what you have heard from the beginning remains alive in you.
From the first letter of the holy apostle John
Friends,
Who denies that Jesus is the savior,
Isn’t that the liar?
That’s the ‘antichrist’:
The denier of the Father and of the Son.
Who denies Christ
can’t find God;
who confesses the Son
also has the Father.
As for you,
takes care of
that stays alive in you
what you’ve heard from the beginning;
then you yourself will remain in the Son and also in the Father.
And you know the promise
that he did to us himself:
the promise of eternal life.
This in view of those who want to deceive you.
As far as you are concerned,
the consecration you received from Him
keeps up with you,
you don’t need another teacher.
His ordination teaches you in everything;
it is true and without guile.
Remains in Him,
as she teaches it.
And now children,
remains in Him.
Then we are confident when He will appear,
and we don’t have to be ashamed of Him.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 98(97), 1, 2-3ab, 3c-4
Glorify the Lord, all nations,
be happy, rejoice and sing.
Sing for the Lord a new song
because He did miracles.
His hand asserted itself powerfully,
the power of his holy arm.
His blessings He made us know,
the peoples are justice.
Once again his goodness and faithfulness
in favor of Israel’s house.
Watched the whole earth
what our God did for us.
Glorify the Lord, all nations,
be happy, rejoice and sing.
ALLELUIA Joh. 1, 14 and 12b
Alleluia.
The Word has become flesh
and has lived among us.
To all who accepted Him
He gave the power
to become children of God.
Alleluia.
Gospel Joh. 1, 19-28
He who comes after me was before me.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
This is the testimony of John,
when the Jews of Jerusalem
sent priests and levites to him
to ask him:
“Who are you?”
Thereupon he declared
without any reservation and with great firmness :
“I am not the Messiah.”
They asked him :
“What then?
Are you Elijah?”
He said :
“I am not.”
“Art thou the prophet?”
He answered :
“No.”
Then they said to him:
“Then who are you?
“Surely we must give an answer
to those who sent us.
“What do you say about yourself?”
He spoke:
“I am, as the prophet Isaiah expresses it:
The voice of someone calling in the desert:
Makes the way straight for the Lord!”
The emissaries were from the circle of the Pharisees.
They asked him :
“What do you baptize then,
if you are not the Messiah,
neither Elijah, nor the prophet?”
John answered them :
“I baptize with water
but among you is He whom you do not know,
He who comes after me,
I’m not worthy to detach the belt from his sandals.”
This happened in Bethany,
on the other side of the Jordan.
where John was baptizing.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCISCUS
About caring for the common house
38. We recall, for example, the lungs of the planet that are brimming with biodiversity, such as the Amazon and the Congo River Basin or the great aquifers and glaciers. The importance of these places for the whole of the planet and humanity’s future is all too well known. The ecosystems of the tropical forests have a biodiversity of great complexity, which it is impossible to know completely, but when these forests are set on fire or razed to the ground to increase the cultivation of produce, countless species are lost within few years or these areas turn into barren deserts. However, a delicate balance urges itself, when talking about these places, because one also cannot ignore the tremendous international economic interests that, with the pretence of taking care of them, can jeopardise national sovereignty. Indeed, there are “proposals to internationalise the Amazon, which only serve the economic interests of the multinationals”. Praiseworthy is the commitment of international organisations and civil society organisations to sensitise peoples and cooperate critically, also using legitimate means of pressure, so that each government fulfils its own and non-delegable duty to protect its own country’s environment and natural resources without selling out to impure local and international interests.
To be continued For all previous publications scroll down
The Bible text in this edition is a translation from De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation.