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.
Consideration
The Holy Spirit reveals the identity and meaning of God. More than that, He crafts a greater likeness to God. This is also the inner engine of Paul’s ministry of proclamation. For the Creator has risen like a light in his heart. In a similar way, believers can grow in the knowledge of God and in union with Him. Only by choosing the Lord and converting to Him can what the psalm says happen: God’s glory comes to dwell with us (Ps 85.10). The growth towards honouring and greater likeness to God expresses itself in a stronger focus on reconciliation with fellow human beings and in a more radical experience of love. Thus one proclaims Jesus Christ through his way of life.
FIRST READING II Cor. 3:15-4, 1. 3-6
God has entered into our hearts as a light,
to cause the knowledge to shine forth His glory.
From the holy apostle Paul’s second letter to the Christians of Corinth
Brothers and sisters,
Until today a veil lies
over the minds of the children of Israel,
whenever Moses is read.
But every time someone is converted to the Lord
the veil is removed.
The Lord now is the Spirit,
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
To all of us it is given
to behold the glory of the Lord with an unveiled face
and to be transformed into ever more glorious likenesses of Him.
This is how the Lord who is Spirit, works.
That is why we never lose heart,
now that we have been entrusted by God’s mercy with this service.
And if there is still a veil
over the message we proclaim,
then only for those who are lost,
for the unbelievers,
whose minds have been so blinded by the god of this world,
that they do not see the gleam
of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God.
For we proclaim not ourselves ,
but Christ Jesus, the Lord;
ourselves we regard only as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
The same God who said:
“Light must shine out of darkness”,
has risen as a light in our hearts,
to make the knowledge shine of his glory,
which lies over the face of Christ.
INTERLUDIUM Ps 85(84), 9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
God’s glory comes to dwell with us again.
Hearing I will hear what God says to me,
surely a word of reconciliation.
A word for His people, for all who serve Him,
for every one who opens his heart to Him.
His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
His Glory comes to dwell with us again.
When fidelity and mercy meet,
If peace and justice embrace each other ;
then faithfulness will sprout 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 Mt 11:25
Alleluia.
I praise Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because You have revealed these things to children.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 5:20-26
All who are wroth with their brother,
shall be punishable in court.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time Jesus said to his disciples :
“I say to you : If your righteousness
does not far exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees ,
ye shall certainly not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Ye have heard that to our forefathers it was said :
Thou shalt not kill.
“Whoever kills shall be punishable in court.
“But I say to you :
All who are wroth with their brother ,
shall be punishable in court.
“And whoever says to his brother :Raka,
shall be punishable before the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says :Fool,
shall be punishable with the fire of hell.
“If ye come to bring your gifts to the altar
and there it occurs to thee that thy brother has something against thee ,
then leave your gifts before the altar,
first reconcile with your brother
and then return to offer your gifts.
“Make haste to agree with your opponent
while you are still on the road with him ;
otherwise your opponent
may well turn you over to the judge,
and the judge to the bailiff,
and then thou wouldst be cast into prison.
“Verily, I say unto thee :
Ye shall not come out of there
until thou hast paid to the last penny.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
201. The majority of the planet’s inhabitants declare themselves to be religious, and this should encourage religions to enter into a dialogue with each other aimed at caring for nature, protecting the poor, building a network of respect and fraternity. Dialogue between the sciences themselves is also indispensable, as each is used to confining itself within the limits of its own language and specialisation tends to become isolation and absolutisation of its own knowledge. This prevents the problems of the environment from being adequately addressed. Similarly, an open and respectful dialogue becomes necessary between the different ecological movements, where there is no lack of ideological struggle. The seriousness of the ecological crisis demands that we all think of the common good and continue along the path of dialogue, which calls for patience, asceticism and generosity, remembering that “reality is more important than the idea”.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays.
Laudato Si Official English translation
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