Pope Fabianus lived during the persecution of Christians and died by
torture during the reign of Emperor Decius on 20 January 250.
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 morning from 7am
CONSIDERATION
Jesus is our new high priest, far exalted above all the priests of the Old Covenant. He sacrifices Himself, so that this sacrifice also exceeds all the innumerable sacrifices of the Old Covenant. This Old Covenant is therefore at an end. A New Covenant comes in its place. Here the author of the letter of Hebrews adopts a long text from the prophet Jeremiah. After the Old Covenant comes a New Covenant. As precious and exalted as the Old Covenant was, it is coming to an end and will be replaced. The New Covenant will be especially deeply imprinted in man’s heart. Psalm 85 beautifully echoes this.
FIRST READING Hebrews 8, 6-13
The covenant of which Jesus is mediator is much loftier.
From the letter to the Hebrews
Brothers and sisters,
In fact
the ministry to which Jesus has fallen is far more exalted,
as are the covenant of which He is the mediator
and the promises on which it rests.
Had the first covenant been without fault
then they would not have looked back for a second one.
But God blames their errors with these words :
“Days are coming, says the Lord,
that I will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah
a new covenant.
“It will be different from the covenant I made with their fathers
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt ,
for they have not kept My covenant
and I no longer cared for them, says the Lord.
“And so shall be the covenant
which I will make with the house of Israel ,
says the Lord:
“My laws I impress upon their minds
and I engrave them in their hearts :
I will be their God and they will be My people.
“Then no one shall teach another
nor say to his brother : Know your Lord.
“All will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest.
“For I will forgive their iniquities
and remember their sins no more.”
By speaking of a new covenant
He has declared the first to be obsolete,
and everything that becomes old and aged
is about to disappear.
INTERLUDIUM Ps 85(84), 8, 10, 11-12, 13-14
Faithfulness and mercy go together.
Show us your mercy,
give us your salvation, O Lord.
Your salvation is near to those who fear You,
your Glory comes to dwell with us again.
When faithfulness and mercy meet one another
if peace and justice embrace each other ;
then faithfulness shall spring from the earth,
and justice will look down from heaven.
Then the Lord will give us his blessing
and our land will bear rich fruit.
Then for Him out of righteousness shall go
and prosperity follow His steps.
ALLELUIA Ps. 119(118), 88
Alleluia.
Be merciful to me and let me live, Lord,
then I will remain faithful to what You ordain.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk. 3, 13-19
Jesus called to Himself those He Himself wanted ; and they came to Him.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Mark
At that time Jesus went up the mountain
and called to Himself those He Himself wanted ;
and they came to Him.
He appointed twelve to accompany Him
and to be sent out by Him to preach,
with power to cast out devils.
So He appointed these twelve ;
Simon, whom He gave the name Peter ;
further, James the son of Zebedee
and John, the brother of James,
to whom He gave the name Boanérges, which means :
Sons of thunder ;
then Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Tomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Taddeus, Simon the Zealot
and Judas Iscariot, who delivered Him up.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
56. In the meantime, economic powers continue to justify the current global system, where speculation and the search for financial gain prevail, which tend to ignore any context and the effects on human dignity. It thus becomes clear that environmental decay and human and ethical decay are closely linked. Many will say they are unaware that they are committing immoral acts because the constant scattering deprives us of the courage to perceive the reality of a limited and finite world. Therefore, “everything fragile, like the environment, remains defenceless in the face of the interests of the deified market, which have turned into an absolute rule”.
To be continued For previous publications scroll down
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