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
In the second century BC, Elijah was an almost legendary figure, as great as Moses. He would return at the end of time to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. In certain Jewish circles today, it is still a fine custom to provide an extra place at the table for Elijah. Jesus alludes to that Jewish belief by extending it to the figure of John the Baptist. Elia came, but people did not recognise him. Again, we are warned not to let the auspicious moment pass. God is also coming now. Let us therefore learn to read the signs of the times and not miss the coming of God in our daily lives.
FIRST READING Sir. 48, 1-4.9-11
Elijah will return.
From the Book of Ecclesiasticus
Elijah the prophet rose up like a fire;
his word burned like a torch;
he brought famine upon the people
and in his zeal for the Lord he made them few in number.
By the word of the Lord he closed the heavens,
and likewise he sent down fire three times.
How glorious were thou, Elijah, by thy miraculous works:
Who may boast like thee?
Thou who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire
on a chariot with fiery horses,
of whom it is written that he is destined for the time
when he shall appease the wrath of God before it ignites,
will turn the hearts of the fathers to the son
and raise up the tribes of Jacob.
Happy are those who have seen you
and slept in love.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 80(79), 2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19
God of hosts, raise us up again ;
smile upon us again and we shall be saved.
Shepherd of Israel, hear us,
Thou who art enthroned on the Kerub, appear with glory ;
cast thy might into battle,
come to assist us.
God of hosts, do return,
look down from heaven and watch over thy vineyard.
Protect what Thy own hand has planted,
the sapling thou hast grown.
Let thy hand rest on thy favourite,
on the child Thou hast raised.
Never again shall we forsake Thee ;
if Thou dost preserve our life, we will praise Thee.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia.
The day of the Lord is at hand ;
behold, He comes to deliver us.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 17:10-13
Elijah has already come, but they have not recognised him.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
On descending from the mountain
the disciples asked Jesus the question:
“Why do the scribes still say
that Elijah must come first?”
He answered them:
“Indeed, Elijah will come to restore everything.
In fact, I tell you:
Elijah has already come,
but they have not acknowledged him
but dealt with him at will,
as also the Son of Man will suffer from them.”
Now the disciples understood
that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the care of the common home
ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ECOLOGY
138. Ecology studies the relationship between living organisms and the environment in which they develop. This necessarily entails reflection and debate about the conditions required for the life and survival of society, and the honesty needed to question certain models of development, production and consumption. It cannot be emphasized enough how everything is interconnected. Time and space are not independent of one another, and not even atoms or subatomic particles can be considered in isolation. Just as the different aspects of the planet – physical, chemical and biological – are interrelated, so too living species are part of a network which we will never fully explore and understand. A good part of our genetic code is shared by many living beings. It follows that the fragmentation of knowledge and the isolation of bits of information can actually become a form of ignorance, unless they are integrated into a broader vision of reality.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition 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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