Irenaeus is the first great theologian and church father of the Christian church
Originated from Asia Minor, Bishop of Lyon. Lived from 135-202. Born in Smyrna (Turkey)
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
Two central themes dominate the Abrahamic cycles and always intersect Concern for offspring and a land of one’s own, and a relationship with God. Both themes appear together in this reading. The Covenant makes Abraham the father of the people of Israel and the founder of Israel’s religion.
FIRST READING Gen 15:1-12.17-18
Abram believed the Lord,
and he counted it as righteousness,
and he made a covenant with him.
From the Book of Genesis
In those days the word of the LORD sounded in a vision to Abram.
“Thou must not fear, Abram; I will be thy shield.
Thy reward shall be very great!”
Then Abram said:
“LORD God, what profit have I of your gifts?
For I remain childless
and the Damascene Eliezer shall be the possessor of my house.
And thou hast not given me any offspring,
and a subject shall be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD was addressed to him:
“Not he shall be your heir;
your heir shall be one whom you shall beget.”
He led him out and said:
“Look at the sky and count the stars, if you can.”
And He assured him:
“So numerous shall thy posterity be.”
Abram believed the LORD
and He counted it as righteousness.
Then the LORD said to him:
“I am God the LORD, who brought you out of Ur into Chaldee
to give you possession of this land.”
Abram asked:
“LORD God, how can I know
that I shall indeed receive it?”
He said to him:
“Get a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old goat,
a three-year-old ram, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.”
He fetched all this, cut the animals in half, and laid the pieces face to face;
only the birds he did not cut.
Birds of prey came upon the dead animals,
but Abram chased them away.
At sunset, Abram fell into a deep sleep;
darkness and fear overtook him.
When the sun had gone down
and it had become totally dark,
Abram saw a smoking furnace and a fiery torch,
which passed between the pieces.
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram.
He said:
“To your descendants, I grant this land,
from the brook of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 105(104), 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Forever God’s covenant remains in force.
Alleluia.
Glorify the Lord and worship His Name,
proclaim His works to the nations.
Sing to Him and pluck the strings for Him,
recount all His wondrous works.
Go ye great in the holy Name of the Lord,
rejoice, ye that follow him.
Abide in Him, in His mighty arm,
and always seek His Face.
Ye children 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.
Forever and ever His covenant remains in force,
which He hath promised for a thousand generations.
The covenant which He once made with Abraham,
the oath that He once swore to Isaac.
ALLELUIA cf. Eph. 1, 17-18
Alleluia.
The God of our Lord Jesus Christ
may enlighten our inner eye,
to see how great is the hope
to which He calls us.
Alleluia
GOSPEL Mt 7, 15-20
By their fruits, you will know them!
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
In those days Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of the false prophets,
those who come to you in sheep’s clothing
but are wolves of prey on the inside.
You will know them by their fruits.
Do they sometimes take grapes from thorns?
or figs from thorns?
Thus every good tree bringeth forth good fruit,
but the sick tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit
nor can a sick tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
By their fruits, then, you will know them.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
214. Political institutions and various other social groups are also entrusted with helping to raise people’s awareness. So too is the Church. All Christian communities have an important role to play in ecological education. It is my hope that our seminaries and houses of formation will provide an education in responsible simplicity of life, in grateful contemplation of God’s world, and in concern for the needs of the poor and the protection of the environment. Because the stakes are so high, we need institutions empowered to impose penalties for damage inflicted on the environment. But we also need the personal qualities of self-control and willingness to learn from one another.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, ©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical suggestions for the weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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