James was a fisherman in Galilee. First apostle to die a martyr’s death.
Leader of first Christian church after Peter’s death.
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 gospel passage takes place just before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Soon there follows only the healing of two blind people who ask Jesus, “Lord, make our eyes open.” The disciples, on the other hand, still remain “blind”. They have been following Jesus for some time,” yet they do not really know him yet. From the knowledge of the passion story, the response of James and John to Jesus’ question about their ability to drink the cup he is about to drink sounds overconfident and naïve. Yet James will become the first to empty the “cup of martyrdom”. He will deliver his “life to death for Jesus’ sake” (first reading).
FIRST READING 2 Cor. 4, 7-15
We always carry the death of Jesus in our bodies.
From the Second Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of
of Corinth
Brothers and sisters,
We carry treasure in earthen pots;
clearly shows
that this great power comes from God and not from us.
We are bombarded on all sides
but still do not get stuck;
we see no way out
but are never at the end of our tether;
we are hunted down
but not abandoned ;
we are struck down
but do not die.
We always carry the death of Jesus in our bodies,
because the life of Jesus
must be made manifest in our bodies.
Constantly our life is
delivered to death for Jesus’ sake
so that the life of Jesus
also be revealed in our mortal existence.
Thus death does its work in us and life in you.
But we possess that spirit of faith of which the Scriptures say :
“I have believed,
therefore have I spoken.”
We too believe, and therefore we speak.
For we know,
He who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead
will also raise us to life like Jesus
in order to take us to himself, together with you.
For everything happens for you :
The grace must multiply in many
so that more and more people may give thanks to God,
to the honour of his name.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 126(125), 1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Those who sow under tears
they reap with gladness.
The Lord brought back Zion’s exiles :
It was as if we were dreaming.
Then all mouths laughed
and every tongue rejoiced.
Then the nations said :
Wonderful is the Lord’s doing to them.
Great is the Lord’s doing to us,
that’s why we’re so happy.
Turn now our fate for the better, Lord,
as a brook does in the south desert.
Those who sow under tears
they reap with gladness.
Full of care they go out
with sackcloth laden ;
but return singing
laden with their sheaves.
ALLELUIA John 15, 16
Alleluia.
I have chosen you
and I have given you the task of going on a journey
and to bring forth fruit that may endure.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 20, 20-28
My cup shalt thou drink.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time, the mother of the sons of Zebedee
approached Jesus with them
and threw herself down at his feet to ask him something.
He said to her :
“What do you desire?”
She answered Him :
“Let these two boys of mine sit in your kingdom,
one at your right hand, and one at your left.
But Jesus answered :
“Ye know not what ye ask.
“Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?
They said to him :
“Yes we can.”
He said :
“Indeed, my cup shalt thou drink,
but it is not for Me
to make you sit at My right hand or My left hand,
for they only shall obtain it
for whom my Father has prepared it.
When the ten others heard this
they became angry with the two brothers.
Jesus, however, called them to Himself and said :
“You know that the rulers of the nations
rule them with an iron fist
and that the great ones abuse their power over them.
“This must not be the case with you;
whoever wishes to become great among you
must be a servant of you,
and whoever wants to be first among you
must be slave to you,
just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served,
but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
241. Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus, now cares with maternal affection and pain for this wounded world. Just as her pierced heart mourned the death of Jesus, so now she grieves for the sufferings of the crucified poor and for the creatures of this world laid waste by human power. Completely transfigured, she now lives with Jesus, and all creatures sing of her fairness. She is the Woman, “clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). Carried up into heaven, she is the Mother and Queen of all creation. In her glorified body, together with the Risen Christ, part of creation has reached the fullness of its beauty. She treasures the entire life of Jesus in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19,51), and now understands the meaning of all things. Hence, we can ask her to enable us to look at this world with eyes of wisdom.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical Suggestions for the Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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