These leading angels are involved in the redemption of humanity in a special way
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
Many people regard angels as religious fairy-tale figures: Good fairies who bring salvation when everything is stuck, playful elves who brighten up the daily routine. Thus they place the angels in the twilight of legend. Yet angels, as protective figures, are a fixed biblical fact. To ignore them is a sign of inconsistent faith. We gladly believe Jesus when he says: ‘Do not harm anyone, be just, love your neighbour’. After all, it makes our adult world liveable. But unbelievingly we shrug our shoulders at the words: ‘To really believe you must become like children whose angels stand before the throne of the Father’. (From the Missal for Weekdays and Saints’ Celebrations)
FIRST READING Dan. 7, 9-10.13-14
A thousand times thousands served Him.
From the Prophet Daniel
In my vision I saw thrones being set up
and a very aged man was prostrate.
His robe was white as snow
and his hair was white as wool.
His throne was made of flames,
its wheels of blazing fire.
A stream of fire rose up
and flowed out before him.
A thousand times thousands served him
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court sat down
and the books were opened.
In my nightly vision
I saw in the clouds of heaven someone coming who looked like a man.
He went to the high Elder and was led before Him.
Then He was given dominion,
splendour and royal power ;
all nations, tribes, and languages paid him homage.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
which never perisheth,
His kingdom shall never perish.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 138(137), 1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5
I sing to You, Lord, and to all the heavenly powers.
I will praise Thee, O Lord, with all my heart,
because Thou hast listened to my prayer.
I sing to Thee and to all the heavenly powers
and prostrate myself before thy sanctuary.
I praise Thee for thy goodness and thy faithfulness,
for thy promise Thou hast fulfilled without measure.
Whenever I have cried out to Thee, Thou hast always heard me,
Thou hast always given me new courage.
To Thee will all the kings of the earth honour
when they hear what Thou sayest unto them.
They shall also sing of the deeds of the Lord:
Yea, verily, mighty is the greatness of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Ps. 103(102), 21
Alleluia.
Glorify the Lord, all his hosts,
faithful servants who do His will.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 1, 47-51
You will see the heavens open
and see the angels of God ascending and descending.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him
and said, referring to him :
“Truly this is an Israelite in whom there is no guile!”
Nathanael said to Him :
“How do You know me?”
Jesus answered him :
“Before Fipippus called you
I saw you sitting under the fig tree.”
Then Nathanael said to Him :
“Rabbi,
Thou art the Son of God,
Thou art the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered :
“Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree do you believe?
“Thou shalt see greater things than these.”
And He added :
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee :
Thou shalt see the heavens open
and see the angels of God ascending and descending
in the service of the Son of Man.”
____________________________________________________________________
Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care of the Common Home
A variety of opinions
60. Finally, we need to acknowledge that different approaches and lines of thought have emerged regarding this situation and its possible solutions. At one extreme, we find those who doggedly uphold the myth of progress and tell us that ecological problems will solve themselves simply with the application of new technology and without any need for ethical considerations or deep change. At the other extreme are those who view men and women and all their interventions as no more than a threat, jeopardizing the global ecosystem, and consequently the presence of human beings on the planet should be reduced and all forms of intervention prohibited. Viable future scenarios will have to be generated between these extremes, since there is no one path to a solution. This makes a variety of proposals possible, all capable of entering into dialogue with a view to developing comprehensive solutions.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Contemplations from Liturgical Suggestions for the Weeks
Laudato Si Official English translation
___________________________________________________________________