HH. Nereus and Achilleus are two Roman Catholic martyrs
of the 5th century. They are commemorated together on May 12.
H. Pancreatius born in Phrygia. Martyred to death in Rome in 304
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 except,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day.
Considerations
The result of the Apostles’ Council is a letter to the Church of Antioch. This letter contains a clear structure. The senders are mentioned as well as the addressees. Then the reason for the letter is given and the names of the authorised messengers carrying it. Finally, a decision follows, a decree that is mostly positive (no obligation to the Mosaic Law) and contains some negative restrictions. Luke wants to underline not only the communion of the Church of Jerusalem and Antioch, but also the continuity between Israel and the quietly growing world church.
FIRST READING Acts 15:22-31
The Holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose on you a heavier burden than the necessary.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days the apostles and elders decided
together with the whole congregation
to choose some men from among themselves
and to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch :
Judas, nicknamed Barsabbas,
and Silas, men of distinction among the brethren,
and to give them the following letter :
“The apostles and elders send their brotherly greetings
to the brethren from among the Gentiles in Antioch,
Syria and Cilicia.
“Since we have heard
that some of us
have confused you by words
and have troubled your minds ,
without having received any orders from us,
we have unanimously decided
to select and send to you some men
in company with our dear Barnabas and Paul,
men who have devoted themselves entirely
for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We have therefore delegated Judas and Silas
who will also verbally convey the same.
“For the Holy Spirit and we have decided
to impose on you no heavier burden than this inevitable :
To abstain from foods sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from what is asphyxated
and from fornication.
“If ye observe yourselves before this
it shall be well with thee.
“Farewell!”
After saying goodbye, they travelled to Antochia.
There they called the congregation together
and handed over the letter.
They read it and rejoiced at its comforting contents.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 57(56), 8-9, 10-12
You I want to praise, Lord, before all nations,
for all nations I sing to Thee in honour.
Or : Alleluia.
In You I trust, God, in You I trust,
I sing and play for Thee.
Awake, my spirit, wake up, harp and zither
and awaken the dawn.
You I want to praise, Lord, before all nations,
for all nations I sing to Your glory;
because your compassion is wide as the heavens,
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Display Thee on high, God, in majesty,
thy glory shine upon all the earth.
ALLELUIA Rom. 6, 9
Alleluia.
Christ, once risen from the dead
dies no more ;
death has no more power over Him.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Jn 15:12-17
This is my commandment, that ye love one another.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :
“This is my commandment ,
that ye love one another as I have loved you.
“No greater love can anyone have than this,
that he gives his life for his friends.
“Ye are My friends if ye do what I command you.
“I no longer call you servants
for the servant knows not what his lord does,
but you I have called friends
for I have communicated to you all that I have heard from the Father.
“Not ye have chosen Me but I have chosen you ,
and I have given you the task of going on a journey
and bring forth fruit that may be lasting.
“Then the Father will give you
all that ye ask Him in My Name.
“This is My commandment,
That ye love one another.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
167. Mention should be made of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. There it was declared that “human beings are at the centre of concern regarding sustainable development”. Reiterating here and there the contents of the Stockholm Declaration (1972), it reaffirmed, among other things, international cooperation on care for the ecosystem of the whole earth, the obligation of those who pollute to burden themselves economically with it, the duty to consider the impact of any work or project on the environment. He has proposed a goal of stabilising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to reverse the tendency towards global warming. He also developed an agenda with a programme of action and a convention on biological diversity, principles declared on forests. While that summit was truly innovative and prophetic for its time, the agreements have had a low level of realisation because there are no adequate mechanisms of monitoring, periodic review and sanction for dereliction of duty in this regard. The proclaimed principles continue to call for effective expeditious avenues for and practical realisation
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
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