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.
Considerations
A final reading from Thessalonians reduces an overly tense expectation of an imminent end to proper proportions. Jesus always refused to answer human curiosity about the when and how of a new life in Him. While the ‘day of the Lord is an announced reality, an event we can expect, we cannot imagine anything concrete. We have no clue what allows us to create an image of our resurrection, nor do we have an idea of that other reality: Eternal life in God’s security. All we can – and must – do is trust God’s promise. Taking the great leap of faith, from the certainty that we know nothing, but have everything to hope for. All we do know is that we need to be vigilant. Are we?
FIRST READING I Thess. 5, 1-6. 9-11
Our Lord Jesus Christ died for us
that we might live united to Him.
From the holy apostle Paul’s first letter to the Christians of Thessalonica
It makes no sense, brothers, and sisters,
writing to you about time and hour.
Ye, you know very well
that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
While they say:’ ‘There is peace and security,
just then sudden destruction comes upon them
like woe to a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, you do not live in darkness
so that the day would surprise you like a thief.
Ye are all children of light,
children of the day.
We do not belong to night and darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as the others
but watch and be sober.
For God has not destined us to suffer his wrath
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us that we might,
waking or already asleep, to live united with Him.
Therefore continue to encourage and support one another,
as ye already do.
INTERLUDIUM Ps 27(26), 1, 4, 13-14
During my life, I still count on
experiencing the blessings of the Lord.
The Lord is my light and my guide,
whom should I fear;
the Lord is the brace of my life,
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing only I ask of the Lord,
more will I not wish:
That I may dwell in God’s house
as long as I live.
That I may experience the loveliness of the Lord,
that I may see his temple again with my own eyes.
During my lifetime I count on
to experience the Lord’s benefits.
Look forward to the Lord and stand firm bravely,
be bold in heart, and trust in the Lord.
ALLELUIA Ps 119(118), 18
Alleluia.
Open my eyes to behold, Lord,
the glory of your law.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 4, 31-37
I know who thou art: The Holy One of God.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time Jesus went to Capernaum, a city in Galilee
and acted as a teacher to the people there on the Sabbath.
They were beside themselves with amazement at His teaching,
because He spoke with authority.
Once there was a man in the synagogue
who was possessed by an unclean spirit
and who began to shout loudly :
“Jesus of Nazareth,
what do we have to do with each other?
“Hast Thou come to plunge us into ruin?
“I know who Thou art: The Holy One of God.”
Jesus added to him :
“Be silent and depart from him.”
The evil spirit hurled him among the people
and went away from him
without having caused him any injury.
They all stood stunned and said to each other :
“What is this word,
that with authority and power gives a command to the unclean spirits
that they go away?”
And his fame spread to all the places of that region.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
36. Caring for ecosystems requires a view beyond the immediate because their protection interests no one when all that is sought is quick and easy economic gain. But the cost of the damage caused by selfish carelessness is many times greater than the economic benefit that can be gained. In the case of loss or serious damage to some species, we are talking about values beyond any calculation. That is why we can be mute witnesses to very serious injustices when people claim to gain important economic benefits and make the rest of present and future humanity pay for the very high costs of environmental degradation.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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