St Lucia was born in Sicily in 283
Lived during Christian persecution under
Emperor Diocletian. She died in Syracuse in 304
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.
Considerations
Isaiah is the prophet of the most radical monotheism. He appears in Babylon, the land of star-worshippers who worship celestial bodies as gods. We recognise thoughts from the book of Job. With nothing can our God be compared. He is above all and everything and – the greatest miracle of all – so near to those in need. What a wonderful response then is the gospel. A prayer that comes spontaneously from our hearts.
FIRST READING Isa 40:25-31
The Lord Almighty grants strength to those who are weary.
From the Prophet Isaiah
“With whom will ye compare Me,
with whom equate Me,” asks the Almighty.
“Cast your eyes upwards and look carefully ;
Who created all this ?
“Who makes the heavenly bodies go out in full,
who calls them all by name,
is so mighty and strong
that not one is missing from the roll call ?
“How then can ye say, Jacob,
how canst thou claim, Israel,
that thy ways are hidden from the Lord,
that thy right would escape God ?
“Knowest thou then not ,
hast thou then never heard,
that the Lord is an everlasting God,
and creator of all the face of the earth,
that He does not grow weary, knows no exhaustion,
and that His wisdom is unfathomable?
“To him who is weary He grants strength,
to him who has no resistance, He bestows abundant energy.
“Young men can get tired and exhausted,
fellows may succumb,
but all who trust in the Lord
receive new strength,
and spread their wings like eagles :
They walk, but do not get tired,
they run, but do not become exhausted!”
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 103(102), 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10
Glorify, my soul, the Lord.
Glorify, my soul, the Lord,
His holy Name from the depths of your being !
Glorify, my soul, the Lord,
forget not his benefits !
It is He who forgives you your debts,
who heals thee from thy afflictions.
It is He who saves thee from destruction,
Who surrounds you with his favour and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and benevolent,
longsuffering and kind.
He does not deal with us as we deserve,
does not repay us our guilt.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia.
The Lord will appear with power,
a light before the eyes of his servants.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 11:28-30
Come to Me all you who are exhausted.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time Jesus took the floor and spoke :
“Come to Me all you who are exhausted and burdened ,
and I will give you rest and relief.
“Take My yoke on your shoulders and learn from Me :
I am meek and lowly in heart ;
and ye shall find rest for your souls,
for my yoke is gentle and my burden is light.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
135. Certainly, these issues require constant attention and a concern for their ethical implications. A broad, responsible scientific and social debate needs to take place, one capable of considering all the available information and of calling things by their name. It sometimes happens that complete information is not put on the table; a selection is made on the basis of particular interests, be they politico-economic or ideological. This makes it difficult to reach a balanced and prudent judgement on different questions, one which takes into account all the pertinent variables. Discussions are needed in which all those directly or indirectly affected (farmers, consumers, civil authorities, scientists, seed producers, people living near fumigated fields, and others) can make known their problems and concerns, and have access to adequate and reliable information in order to make decisions for the common good, present and future. This is a complex environmental issue; it calls for a comprehensive approach which would require, at the very least, greater efforts to finance various lines of independent, interdisciplinary research capable of shedding new light on the problem.
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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