Italian Catholic religious
Born 21/3/1470, 1474 or1475
Died 27/1/1540 Brescia Foundress Ursulines
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wishes to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
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
After the parables, Mark offers us a series of miracle stories. They do not play out for a large crowd, but only for the disciples. They must learn, grow in faith and trust.
To the question Jesus asks them – “What are you afraid of? – we too need to answer. In the difficult moments of our faith, when Jesus asks us to keep choosing him, we want to pray: ‘Lord, if you will, get into my boat. Let us go on together.’
FIRST READING II Sam. 12, 1-7a.10-17
I have sinned against the Lord.
From the second book of Samuel
In those days, the Lord sent the prophet Natan to David.
He entered the king’s house and spoke to him :
“Two men, one rich and one poor ,
lived in the same city.
“The rich one owned many sheep and cattle,
the poor one only one lamb, which he had bought.
“He had been able to keep it alive
and it had grown up with him, among his children ;
the animal ate from his plate, it drank from his cup
and it slept on his lap ;
it was like his daughter.
“Once the rich man had a visit.
“He could not get it over himself,
to take a sheep or a cow from his own flock
and prepare that for the traveller
who had come to him.
“He took the poor man’s lamb
and prepared it for his guest.”
David was deeply indignant at that man
and he said to Natan :
“Behold the Lord lives : the man who did that
deserves death.
“And the lamb he must pay back fourfold ,
because he did not shrink from
doing such a bad thing.”
Then Natan spoke to David :
“That man, that is thou!
“Thus speaks the Lord, the God of Israel :
The sword shall never again depart from thy house ,
because you have scorned Me
and have taken to wife the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
“Thus saith the Lord :
Verily, out of thy own house
I am going to bring disaster upon you ;
I am going to take away your wives from you in your own presence
And give them to one who pursues you ;
in broad daylight he shall go to sleep with thy wives.
“Thou hast acted in secret ,
but I will act in the sight of all Israel
and in broad daylight.”
Then David said to Natan :
“I have sinned against the Lord.”
Natan replied :
“Then the Lord has forgiven you this sin :
thou shalt not die.
“But because by this act thou hast
have given the enemies of the Lord reason to blaspheme ,
the child born to thee must die.”
Thereupon Natan went home
and the Lord struck the child
whom Uriah’s wife had given to David,
with a severe illness.
And David prayed to God for the boy ;
he fasted severely, and when he withdrew for the night
he laid himself to sleep on the ground.
The elders of the court urged him
that he should no longer sleep on the ground ,
but he would not listen ;
he also refused to eat with them.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 51(50), 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Create in me a pure heart, my God.
Create in me a pure heart, my God,
Give me a resolute spirit again.
Will not cast me away from your Face,
do not take away your Holy Spirit from me.
Give me again the opulence of your blessing,
make me strong in generosity.
Then I will teach the erring your ways,
lead all the guilty back to You.
Keep me far from blood guilt, God my saviour,
then my tongue will sing of Your wise policy.
Lord, loosen Thou my lips,
That my mouth may sing Your praise.
ALLELUIA Ps. 119(118), 88
Alleluia.
Be merciful to me and let me live, Lord,
Then will I remain true to what Thou ordainest.
Alleluia.
EVANGELY Mk. 4, 35-41
Who is He anyway, that even wind and water obey Him ?
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
On a certain day, towards nightfall,
Jesus spoke to his disciples :
“Let us cross over.”
They sent the people away
and took Him as He sat there in the boat ;
Other boats accompanied Him.
A violent storm arose
and the waves beat over the boat so that it was already filling up.
Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping on the cushion at the stern.
They woke Him up and told Him :
“Master, does it not touch You that we are perishing?”
He stood up,
addressed a compelling word to the wind
and spoke to the water :
“Be silent!”
The wind died down and it became perfectly silent.
He spoke to them :
“Why are you so afraid?
“How is it possible that you do not yet have faith?”
They were overcome by a great fear and asked one another :
“Who is He that even wind and water obey Him?”
________________________________________________________
Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
179. Some places are developing partnerships for renewable energy exploitation that allow local self-sufficiency and even the sale of excess production. This simple example suggests that while the existing world order proves incapable of taking responsibility, local agency can make all the difference. Indeed, it is there that greater responsibility, a strong sense of community, a special ability to care for others and a generous creativity, a deep love for one’s own land can emerge, as well as thinking of what one leaves behind children and grandchildren. These values have very deep roots in the original populations. Since law sometimes proves inadequate as a result of corruption, a political decision is required under popular pressure. Society, through non-governmental bodies and intermediary organisations, must oblige governments to develop standards systems, procedures and stricter controls. If the citizens do not control political power – national, regional and municipal – then there is no way to combat environmental damage. On the other hand, municipal legislation can be more effective if there are agreements between neighbouring peoples to support the same environmental policies.
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
_____________________________________________________________________________