Martyrs who became victims under Emperor Nero. Among other things, they were burned alive as fire torch
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
CONSIDERATON
As shown earlier, the promise of progeny is central to the Abrahamic cycle. This promise is only fulfilled through many vicissitudes. There is the barrenness of Sarah; there is the lateral attempt of progeny along the slave woman and the birth of Ishmael; there is the flight of Hagar; there is talk of a new Covenant and the announcement of a son by Sarah herself; there is the birth of Isaac, but again later the suspense of sacrifice. Already the beginning of this reading emphasises the hopelessness of an offspring: Abraham is 99 years old versus 86 when Ishmael was born (In this sense, he is the father of faith).
FIRST READING Gen. 17, 1. 9-10.15-22
All male persons must be circumcised
as a sign of the covenant.
Sarah shall bear you a son.
From the Book of Genesis
When Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the Lord appeared to him and said :
“I am God Almighty,
direct your steps unto me, and be ye blameless.
“You must keep my covenant,
You and your descendants, generation after generation.
“This is my covenant, which ye must keep,
My covenant with you and your descendants:
All male persons shall be circumcised.”
And further God said to Abraham :
“Sarai, thy wife, thou must not call Sarai any more ;
Her name shall be Sarah.
“I will bless her,
and out of her I will give you a son.
“I will bless her,
so that she shall grow into nations ;
Kings of nations shall come forth from her.”
Then Abraham threw himself down to the earth and laughed,
for he said to himself :
Would a man of a hundred years still have a son,
And will ninety-year-old Sarah
bring a child into the world?
Therefore he said to God :
“Let Ishmael rather enjoy thy favour.”
God answered :
“Nay, thy wife Sarah shall bear thee a son,
And thou shalt call him Isaac.
“With him and with his descendants
I will make a covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that endures forever.
“But I will also hear your request concerning Ishmael.
“I will bless him, give him increase in fruitfulness
and make him very numerous.
“Twelve princes shall he conceive
and a great nation will I make of him.
“But my covenant will I make with Isaac,
whom Sarah shall bring forth to you at this time next year.”
When God had said all this,
He departed from Abraham.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 128(127), 1-2, 3, 4-5
Every man is blessed
Who gives honour to the Lord.
Happy are those who fear God,
walketh in the way of the Lord.
You shall eat the fruit of your own labour,
and thou shalt be content and prosperous.
Thy wife within thy house
Is like a richly laden vine.
And as olive branches round about the stem
So are thy sons round thy table.
Yea, so shall every man be blessed
who gives glory to the Lord.
Bless the Lord from Zion ;
may ye see Jerusalem prosperous
as long as thy days shall last.
ALLELUIA Col 3, 16a, 17c
Alleluia.
The word of Christ
May it dwell among you in fullness of glory;
Give thanks to God the Father through Him.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 8, 1-4
If Thou wilt, Lord, Thou canst cleanse me.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
When Jesus had come down from the mountain
A large crowd was following Him.
A leper came to Him
and begged Him on his knees:
“If Thou wilt, Lord, Thou canst cleanse me.”
Jesus reached out, touched him and said :
“I will, be cleansed.”
And immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
Jesus spoke to him :
“Take care that you do not tell anyone,
but go and show yourself to the priest
and offer the gift that Moses has prescribed,
to give them the proof.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
216. The rich heritage of Christian spirituality, the fruit of twenty centuries of personal and communal experience, has a precious contribution to make to the renewal of humanity. Here, I would like to offer Christians a few suggestions for an ecological spirituality grounded in the convictions of our faith, since the teachings of the Gospel have direct consequences for our way of thinking, feeling and living. More than in ideas or concepts as such, I am interested in how such a spirituality can motivate us to a more passionate concern for the protection of our world. A commitment this lofty cannot be sustained by doctrine alone, without a spirituality capable of inspiring us, without an “interior impulse which encourages, motivates, nourishes and gives meaning to our individual and communal activity”.[151] Admittedly, Christians have not always appropriated and developed the spiritual treasures bestowed by God upon the Church, where the life of the spirit is not dissociated from the body or from nature or from worldly realities, but lived in and with them, in communion with all that surrounds us.
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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