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 excepted,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day
Opening word
‘Blessed are those who are invited to the Lord’s meal.’
Today, too, the Lord invites us
to sit at his table
and share in his joy.
No one is excluded
on this great feast of God’s covenant with us.
Let us open the doors of the Church
open wide to all people,
especially to those who live on the margins of society.
At the beginning of this celebration, let us
also open the doors of our hearts
to Jesus’ presence in the midst of us.
FIRST READING Isa 25:6-10a
The Lord invites all to his banquet, and wipes away all tears.
From the Prophet Isaiah
In those days the Lord of heavenly powers will, before all nations
on this mountain a banquet ;
a banquet of fatty foods,
a banquet of mature wines;
fatty foods prepared with marrow,
mature wines pure as crystal.
On this mountain He will tear the veil
that lies over all nations
and the cloth that lies spread over all nations.
The Lord will destroy death forever ;
He will wipe the tears from all faces,
and the shame of his people
away from all the surface of the earth.
For so the Lord has decreed.
On that day people will say :
This is our God in whom we hoped,
He has saved us !
“That is the Lord, in whom we trusted:
let us rejoice and be glad
for the salvation He has brought us!
“Yes, the hand of the Lord
will rest on this mountain.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps 23(22), 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Refrain
The Lord is my shepherd,
nothing do I lack.
The Lord is my shepherd, nothing do I lack;
He makes me graze on green fields.
He brings me to water, where I can rest,
He restores my courage.
He directs my steps along straight paths
for His Name’s sake.
Though my way leads through dark gorges,
I fear no evil wherever You lead me.
Thy rod and Thy staff
give me courage and confidence.
You invite me to Your table
to the annoyance of my enemies.
With oil Thou anointest my head,
my cup is overflowing.
Prosperity and blessing never leave me
every day of my life.
The house of the Lord shall be my dwelling
for all times to come.
SECOND READING Phil 4:12-14,19-20
All things I accomplish in Him who gives me strength.
From the letter of the holy apostle Paul to the Christians of Philippi
Brothers and sisters,
I know what poverty is, I know what abundance is.
I am fully consecrated;
I can eat abundantly and I can go hungry,
I am acquainted with abundance and with want.
All things I endure in Him who gives me strength.
Yet Thou hast done well to
help me in my difficulties.
My God will with divine riches
provide for all your needs
by giving you glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be the glory
throughout the ages of ages! Amen
Verse for the Gospel Cf. Eph. 1:17-18
Alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord JesusnChrist
enlighten our inner eye,
to see how great is the hope to which He calls us.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 22:1-14
Go to the crossroads
and invite whoever you find there to the wedding.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time Jesus took the word
and spoke to the high priests and the elders of the people
in parables.
He said :
“The kingdom of heaven
resembles a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
“He sent out his servants
to call all those he had invited to the wedding,
but they would not come.
“Thereupon he sent other servants with the order :
Say to the invitees :
Behold I have prepared my meal,
my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered ;
everything is ready.
“Come therefore to the wedding.
“But without caring they went away,
one to his field
the other to his business.
“The others seized his servants,
assaulted and killed them.
“Now the king ignited in wrath,
sent his troops
and had the murderers killed and their city burned.
“Then he spoke to his servants :
The wedding banquet is ready
but the invitees were not worthy.
“Go therefore to the crossroads of the roads
and invite whoever you find there to the wedding.
“His servants went to the roads
and brought with them all whom they found there
wicked as well as good,
and the wedding hall filled with guests.
“Now when the king came in
to visit the adjoining guests,
he noticed someone there
who was not dressed for a wedding.
“And he spoke to him :
Friend, how hast thou come in here
without a wedding garment ?
“But the man remained guilty of answering.
“Then the king spoke to the servants :
Bind him by the hands and feet
and cast him out into the darkness.
“There there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Many are called
but few chosen.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
The mystery of the universe
76. For the Judeo-Christian tradition, saying “creation” is more than saying nature, because it has to do with God’s plan of love, in which every creature has a value and a meaning. Nature is often understood as a system to be analysed, understood and managed, but creation can also only be understood as a gift that comes from the Father’s opened hand of all, as a reality illuminated by the love that calls us together into a universal community.
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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