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 this joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.
Available every morning from 7 am
Consideration
The gospel has the typical Johannine irony and double bottom with the misunderstanding between Jesus and the Jews (verses 52 and 57). Added to this is the depth of the Christological statement: ” before Abraham was, I am”. In this gospel, and indeed in the whole of the N.T., this self-revelation of Jesus cannot be surpassed.
FIRST READING Genesis 17, 3-9
You will be the father of many nations.
From the Book of Genesis
At that time Abram threw himself down to the ground,
and God spoke to him:
“This is my covenant with you:
Thou shalt be the father of many nations.
“Thou shalt no longer be called Abram ;
thy name shall be Abraham,
for I will make thee the father of a multitude of nations.
“I will make thee very fruitful,
nations will I make of thee,
even kings will come forth from thee.
“I will establish a covenant with you and your descendants,
generation after generation,
an everlasting covenant:
I will be your God and the God of your descendants,
“All of Canaan, the land where you now dwell as a stranger,
to possess it forever,
and I will be their God.”
Further, God said to Abraham :
“You on your part must keep my covenant,
you and your descendants, generation after generation.”
Interludium Ps. 105 (104), 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
His covenant endures forever.
Rely on God, on his mighty arm,
always keep seeking his Face.
Never forget the wonders which He did,
his signs and his promises.
Ye sons of his servant Abraham,
ye sons of Jacob, his beloved.
The Lord, He is our only God,
what He decrees is valid for all the earth.
For ever and ever his covenant remains in force,
which He has promised for a thousand generations.
The covenant which He once made with Abraham,
the oath which He once swore to Isaac.
VERSION FOR THE GOSPEL cf. Lk 8:15
Blessed are those who keep the word they hear
in a good and noble heart
and bring forth fruit
by their steadfastness.
GOSPEL John 8, 51-59
Abraham, your father rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time Jesus said to the Jews :
“Verily, verily, I say unto you :
If anyone keeps my word
he shall not see death for ever.”
Then the Jews said to Him :
“Now we know for certain that Thou art possessed of the devil.
“For Abraham and the prophets have died,
whereas thou didst claim :
If anyone keeps my word
he shall not taste of death for ever.
“Art thou greater than our father Abraham
who did die?
“Even the prophets died.
“For whom dost Thou hold Thyself ?”
Jesus answered :
“If I glorify Myself, then my glory is nothing ;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say :
He is our God.
“Yet you do not know Him.
“I, on the other hand, know Him
and if I were to say that I know Him not
I would be like you: A liar.
“But I know Him and keep his word.
“Abraham, your father rejoiced
at the thought of seeing my day :
He saw it and rejoiced.”
Then the Jews said to Him :
“Thou art not yet fifty years old
and hast thou seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered them :
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee :
Before Abraham was, I am.”
Then they picked up stones to stone Him
but Jesus withdrew and left the temple.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
125. If we try to think about what the appropriate relations of man with the world that surrounds it are, it is necessary to have a correct conception of labour, because, when we talk about man’s relation to things, the question arises as to the meaning and purpose of man’s influence on reality. We are not just talking about manual work or tilling the earth, but about any activity that involves some kind of change in the existing, from the elaboration of a social study to the project of a technological development. Every form of labour presupposes an idea of the relationship that the human being can or should establish with what is different from him. Christian spirituality, along with the contemplative wonder at creatures that we find in St Francis of Assisi, has also developed a rich and healthy idea about labour, as we meet, for example, in the life of Blessed Charles de Foucauld and his disciples.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Netherlands Bible Society 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
____________________________________________________________________________