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 this joy by opening his heart to the healing effect of God’s word.
Available every day
CONSIDERATION
The book of Tobit was influenced by both biblical and other literary sources. This is evident from today’s first reading. The first part contains entirely the basic theology of Deuteronomy: God rewards good in this life and punishes evil. The second part uses an old story of a demon that successively strangles seven suitors. A real folk tale. Both stories are combined into a romance.
FIRST READING Tob. 3, 1-11. 24-25
The prayer of Tobit and Sarah
were answered before the glorious throne of the Highest.
From the Book of Tobit
In those days Tobit burst into tears of sorrow
and prayed in sorrow:
“Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and all thy works and all thy policies
testify of thy mercy and faithfulness,
and in judging
Thou art faithful and just forever.
Remember me and look down upon me.
Punish me not for what I and my forefathers
knowingly or unknowingly did against Thee.
They have not disturbed Thy commandments.
Therefore hast Thou has given us up
to plunder, captivity, and death,
and to the mockery and derision of all the peoples
among whom we are scattered.
Even now all thy judgments are just
because Thou didst deal with me
according to my own sins and those of my forefathers.
For we have not kept thy commandments
and have not been faithful unto Thee.
Therefore do with me as Thou wilt.
Take back my breath of life,
that I may be dissolved and pass away.
For death is dearer to me than life,
now that I am undeservedly scoffed and in great sorrow.
Let me at last, freed from this distress,
go to the eternal abode.
Do not turn your face away from me.”
That same day it happened that Sara, the daughter of Raguel,
who lived in Ekbatana in Medina,
was insulted by the maids of her father.
She had already been given in marriage to seven men,
but the evil demon Asmodaüs had killed them
even before they had intercourse with her.
And now the maids said to her:
“Art thou wicked, that thou stranglest these men of thine?
You have had seven,
but none have done you any good.
So do not beat us.
If they have died, go after them.
May we never see any of your sons or daughters forever.”
Sara went to the upper room of her house and did not eat or drink for three days.
but persisted in prayer
and, with tears, begged God to deliver her from this reproach.
The prayer of Tobit and Sarah was answered
before the glorious throne of the Highest.
And Raphael, the holy angel of the Lord, was sent,
to heal them both.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 25(24), 2-4a, 4b-5ab, 6-7bc, 8-9
To Thee in the highest I commit my spirit,
To You, Lord my God.
In You, I trust, and will not be ashamed,
let no one mock me.
For he who counts on you will never be ashamed;
they shall be ashamed who trust not in Thee.
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Lead me according to your word,
for Thou art my God and savior.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
Thy ever-giving mercy.
Remember not the evil of my youth,
but remember me with compassion.
The Lord is good and righteous,
therefore He shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in the paths of righteousness,
He teaches the simple what to do.
ALLELUIA Ps. 119(118), 88
Alleluia.
Be merciful to me and let me live Lord,
and I will be faithful to your decrees.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk 12, 18-27
God is not a God of the dead but of the living.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
In those days some Sadducees came to Jesus;
these held that there was no resurrection.
They, therefore, put the following question to Him:
“Master, we see it written by Moses:
If any man’s brother dies
and leaves behind a wife but no children,
then his brother must take that woman
to give him offspring.
Now once there were seven brothers.
The first one took a wife
but left no children when he died.
Then the second took her
but he also died without children.
And so it was with the third;
in short, none of the seven left children.
Last, of all, the woman also died.
At the resurrection, when they shall rise,
whose wife will she be then?
Surely all seven had her as their wife.”
Jesus answered:
“Art thou not led astray?
Knowing neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
When men rise from the dead,
they do not marry and they are not given in marriage,
but are angels in heaven.
And as for the dead,
have you not read in the book of Moses,
where it speaks of the bramble,
how God said to him:
I am the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
He is not the God of the dead but of the living.
You are in great error.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home by Pope Francis
193. In any event, if in some cases sustainable development were to involve new forms of growth, then in other cases, given the insatiable and irresponsible growth produced over many decades, we need also to think of containing growth by setting some reasonable limits and even retracing our steps before it is too late. We know how unsustainable the behavior of those who constantly consume and destroy, while others are not yet able to live in a way worthy of their human dignity. That is why the time has come to accept decreased growth in some parts of the world, and to provide resources for other places to experience healthy growth. Benedict XVI has said that “technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency”.
To be continued.
The Bible text in this edition is taken from De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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