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
Everything in this passage is in a minor state. There is darkness everywhere. They are alone; they are driven off course; they are fearful. Then comes the great turning point: “It is I (“I am” words). With Jesus near, everything becomes different. This is a typical Christian text. Everything is focused on Jesus. There are also Old Testament reminiscences here of Jahweh who rides the waves, who controls chaos. The actualization to us is obvious. No matter what happens – loneliness, distress, confusion – in the presence of Jesus everything becomes different.
FIRST READING Acts 6, 1-7
The apostles chose seven men, full of faith and holy spirit.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days
when the number of disciples was constantly increasing,
the Hellenists began to grumble against the Hebrews,
because in the daily support
their widows were disadvantaged.
The twelve now called the disciples together and said :
“It is not fitting that we should neglect the word of God
by caring for the support.
“Therefore look out, brethren, for seven men from among you,
of good repute, full of spirit and wisdom.
Them then shall we ordain with this office,
while we shall continue ourselves in prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
This proposal met with the approval of the whole assembly
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit,
Philip, Próchorus,
Nikánor, Timon, Parmenas
and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.
These were presented to the apostles,
who, after prayer, laid their hands upon them.
The word of God spread
and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly ;
a large number of priests also gave themselves over to the faith.
RESPONSORIAL Ps. 33(32), 1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Give us, Lord, your mercy,
as we trust in You.
or : Alleluia.
Jubilate, righteous ones, before the Lord,
whoever is pious should praise Him.
Then honor the Lord with the playing of the harp,
and play to Him the harp.
For the word of the Lord is true
and all that He does is trustworthy.
Law and justice He loves,
the earth is full of his mildness.
It is God who guards his servants,
those who trust in his favor.
That He will save them from death,
in times of famine feed them.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia.
Christ rose from the grave,
He who died for us on a cross.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 6, 16-21
They saw Jesus walking on the lake.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
When evening came
the disciples of Jesus went down to the lake.
They set sail
and set course for the other side of the lake,
in the direction of Capernaum.
When darkness had already fallen
Jesus had not yet come to them.
The lake became turbulent because there was much wind.
After rowing about twenty-five or thirty stadia
they saw Jesus
coming on foot across the lake close to the boat
and they became afraid.
But Jesus spoke to them :
“It is I; do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take Him on board,
but just then the boat reached the shore
to which they were going.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
Ecology of everyday life
147. To speak of authentic development, it will have to happen in order to bring about an integral improvement in the quality of human life, and this involves analysing the space in which individuals’ existence takes place. The environment in which we live affects the way we see, feel and act on life. At the same time, in our room, in our home, in our workplace and in our neighbourhood, we use the environment to express our identity. We make an effort to adapt to the environment and when it is disordered, chaotic and saturated with visible and audible pollution, the excess of stimuli challenges our attempts to develop an integrated and happy identity.
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
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