All people are guided, protected and preserved by God’s angels.
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.
Consideration
Much is written about angels today. Compared to some, sometimes very imaginative authors, who detail the types of angels, today’s scripture readings do seem very discreet. What is particularly highlighted is the belief that in angels, God makes us know his loving protection and nearness. On the way through the desert of our lives, God wants to remain close to his children, protecting and guiding them. Anyone who reflects God’s countenance on this journey can be an angel in human form.
FIRST READING Ex 23, 20-23a
From the Book of Exodus
Thus speaks the Lord :
“Behold, I am sending my angel before you
to protect you on the way
and to bring you to the place I have appointed.
“Be attentive to him and listen to his word.
“Do not rebel against him ,
for he would not forgive your rebellion.
“For in him is My name present.
“If ye obey his word
and do what I tell you,
then I am the enemy of thine enemies,
the oppressor of thy oppressors.
“My angel shall go forth before thee.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 91(90), 1-2, 3-5a, 5b-6, 10-11
The Lord has charged his angels
in all thy ways to guard thee.
Thou who hast the protection of the Most High
and who dwell in the shadow of the Almighty,
to thee is the Lord : My refuge, my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.
For He loosens you from the snare of the hunters,
He rescues thee from mortal danger.
He will protect thee with his wings,
under his wings thou wilt find refuge,
His faithfulness is thy armour and shield.
No mischief by night thou needst fear,
no arrow in broad daylight ;
no disease creeping in the darkness,
no malady in the glowing sun.
Evil shall not reach thee,
disaster shall remain far from thy tent.
He has charged his angels
on all thy ways to guard thee.
ALLELUIA Ps. 103(102), 21
Alleluia.
Glorify the Lord, all His armies,
faithful servants who do what He wills.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 18, 1-5.10
They have angels,
and these behold continually the face
of my Father who is in heaven.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time, the disciples addressed to Jesus the question :
“Who indeed is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child,
put it in their midst and said :
“Verily, I say unto you :
if ye become not again like the little children ,
ye shall certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever therefore considers himself small like this child ,
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“And whoever in My Name takes up such a child
taketh up Me.
“Beware of scorning one of these little ones ,
for I say to you :
They have angels in heaven
and they behold continually
the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
The light that faith offers
63. Taking into account the complexity of the ecological crisis and its numerous causes, we should recognise that solutions cannot come from one way of interpreting and changing reality. It is necessary to resort also to the various cultural resources of peoples, to art and poetry, to inner life and spirituality. If one really wants to build an ecology that allows us to restore all that we have destroyed, then no branch of the sciences, no form of wisdom should be neglected, nor that of religion with its own language. Moreover, the Catholic Church is open to dialogue with philosophical thought and this allows her to establish various syntheses between faith and reason. As for social issues, one can observe this in the development of the Church’s social teaching , called to constantly enrich itself, starting from the new challenges.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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