Roman basilicas built over the tomb of St Peter
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 author of Wisdom, staying in Egypt, insists on describing at the end of his book the triumphant exodus and the plagues that preceded it. Thus, he underlines the superiority of the Jewish people over Egypt. Today’s reading picks out two pieces from this. First, the final plague: The death of the Egyptian firstborn. Next: The passage through the Red Sea, concluding with a doxology.
FIRST READING Wis. 18, 14-16; 19, 6-9
A smooth road was revealed through the Red Sea,
your children were like hopping lambs.
From the book of Wisdom
While a deep silence enveloped the world
and night reached the middle of its course,
your almighty word, Lord God,
from its kingly throne in heaven,
and descended like an irresistible warrior
on this lost earth.
Like cleaving sword it carried out your true command.
It sowed death and destruction all around.
Mighty exalted it stood there,
touching heaven and yet resting on earth!
For all creation, in all its multifariousness,
was cast into new forms,
and had to bow to your voice
that your children might remain unharmed!
The cloud covered the army place with its shadow;
where before there had been water, now the dry rose,
a smooth road became visible through the Red Sea,
a green plain where once the waves roared!
And as one man thy people passed through it,
protected by your hand,
eyewitnesses of your wondrous signs.
They were like horses being led to pasture,
like hopping lambs,
and they praised You, Lord, You, their redeemer!
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 105(104), 2-3, 36-37, 42-43
Never forget the miracles the Lord did.
Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord and pluck the strings for Him,
recount all His wondrous works.
Go great on the holy Name of the Lord,
rejoice, ye that follow Him.
He struck down all the firstborn,
He killed their eldest sons.
Then He let His people go with silver and gold,
no man had to stay behind.
The Lord was mindful of His holy word,
once spoken to Abraham.
He led His people away with joy,
his chosen people under jubilation.
ALLELUIA Col 3, 16a, 17c
Alleluia.
The word of Christ
may dwell among you in full riches ;
give thanks to God the Father through Him.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk 18:1-8
Would God not provide justice for his chosen ones
who cry out to Him day and night?
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time, Jesus taught his disciples in a parable
that they should always pray and not falter in it.
He said:
“Once upon a time in a certain city there was a judge
who cared neither about God nor commandment.
There was also a widow in that city
who repeatedly came to him requesting:
Provide me with justice towards my opponent.
For a while that judge would not,
but then he said to himself:
Though I care neither for God nor commandment,
yet I will give that widow justice
no longer to be plagued
by her endless visits.
And the Lord spoke:
Hear what the unjust judge says!
Would not God then provide justice to His chosen ones
who cry out to Him day and night ,
or will He remain impassive towards them?
I tell you: He will soon provide justice for them.
But: will the Son of Man at His coming
find faith on earth?”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
110. The specialisation inherent in technology means that it takes considerably more effort to have a general overview. The fragmentation of knowledge fulfils its function the moment it comes to concrete applications, but it often leads to losing the sense of the whole, the relations that exist between things, the vast horizon, the sense then becomes irrelevant. This same fact prevents discovering adequate ways to solve the most complex problems of today’s world, especially the problems of the environment and the poor, which cannot be addressed by starting from one point of view or one kind of interest. A science that purports to offer solutions to the big issues would necessarily have to take into account everything that knowledge has produced in other fields of knowledge, philosophy and social ethics included. But that is a mode of action that is hard to muster today. Therefore, one cannot really recognise ethical reference horizons either. Life becomes a reliance on conditions conditioned by technology, understood as the main source to interpret existence. In the concrete reality that questions us, various symptoms appear that show the error, such as environmental decay, anxiety, the loss of the meaning of life and coexistence. Thus, once again, it appears that “reality is beyond idea”.
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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