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
Consideration
The story of Abraham is the story of God’s promise to all humanity. Abraham is not only the father of the Jews, but of many nations. The promise remains valid, for all who come to faith that God gives new life. Abraham par excellence was allowed to experience this, because he believed in the impossible. But it is especially Jesus who has shown us God’s power. Through his resurrection, we know what it means to receive new life from the Father. This life-giving power of God is also at work in our world today. It makes people rise from discouragement and brokenness, and forgives wrongs committed time and again. It is this power that will one day raise us from the dead.
FIRST READING Rom. 4:13,16-18,22
Against all hope, he hoped.
From the letter of the holy apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome
Brothers and sisters,
The promise made to Abraham and his descendants
that they would inherit the world,
rests not on the law
but on the righteousness of faith.
Therefore, it depends on faith
and therefore on grace
and the promise is assured for all posterity,
not only for those who have received the law
but for all who follow the faith
of all our father Abraham.
After all, of him it is written :
“I have made thee father of many nations”.
He is this before the face of God in whom he has believed,
God who makes the dead alive
and resurrects what does not exist.
Against all hope, he has hoped
and believed that he would become the father of many nations,
as it was said to him :
“So numerous shall thy posterity be
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 105(104), 6-7, 8-9, 42-43
Forever God’s covenant remains in force.
Or : Alleluia.
Ye offspring of his servant Abraham,
ye sons of Jacob, his beloved.
The Lord, He is our only God,
what He decrees applies to all the earth.
For ever and ever His covenant remains in force,
which He has promised for a thousand generations.
The covenant He made with Abraham before,
the oath He once swore to Isaac.
The Lord was mindful of His holy word,
spoken to Abraham once.
He led His people away with joy,
His chosen people under jubilation.
ALLELUIA Ps. 119(118), 18
Alleluia.
Open my eyes to behold, Lord,
the glory of your law.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 12, 8-12
The Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time Jesus said to his disciples :
“I say to you :
everyone who confesses Me among men ,
him shall acknowledge the Son of Man as his own by the angels of God.
“But whoever denies Me before men
will be denied before God’s angels.
“To every one who will side against the Son of Man
shall be forgiven ;
but him who has blasphemed the Holy Spirit
shall not be forgiven.
“When one brings you before synagogues ,
authorities and rulers,
do not worry
about the how or what of your answer in defence :
At that moment, the Holy Spirit will teach you what to say.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
82. However, it would also be wrong to think that the other living beings should be regarded as pure objects subject to the arbitrary rule of the human being. If nature is seen only as an object of profit and interest, this also brings serious consequences for society. The view that supports the arbitrariness of the strongest has fostered tremendous inequality, injustice and violence for most of humanity, as resources become the property of whoever comes first or who has the power: the winner gets everything. The ideal of harmony, justice, brotherhood and peace advocated by Jesus is diametrically opposed to this model and He expressed it this way when He referred to the powers of His time: “The rulers of the nations rule them with an iron fist and the great ones abuse their power over them. This must not be the case with you; whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mt 20:25-26) .
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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