Invitation
May I draw your attention to
The daily reading of the Gospel
This invitation seeks to convey the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception
can experience that joy by opening his or her heart
to the healing power of the Word of God.
Available every day
Consideration
The two readings and the psalms in between speak of besieging, condemning, killing Jesus announces that he will “go up” to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was on high and the tribes went up to it. Going up to Jerusalem became a common expression. It meant: going on a pilgrimage, making a sacrifice. In this context, the word is very loaded. Jesus “goes up” to sacrifice Himself. It is his final “going up” to the temple, his final journey to death.
FIRST READING Jer. 18:18-20
We are plotting an attack on him
From the prophet Jeremiah
Those who made an attack on the prophet’s life said :
“We are plotting an attack on the life of Jeremiah.
“Never do priests lack instruction
Wise men lack counsel and prophets lack words.
“We no longer pay attention to what he says.
Give me ears, Lord God, hear my complaint:
Can good be repaid with evil?
Yet you dig a pit for me.
Remember that I came before you
To speak on their behalf
And turn your wrath away from them.
Interludium Ps. 31(30), 5-6, 14, 15-16
Save me, Lord, by your mercy.
From the net that people secretly spread for me
I escape through you who always protect me.
I confidently place my spirit in your hands,
You will protect me, faithful God.
I hear them whispering around me
threatening on all sides.
They conspire against me
To take my life.
Yet I continue to trust in You, Lord,
I always say, You are my God.
You hold my fate in Your hand,
Deliver me from my persecutors.
GOSPEL VERS John 11, 25a and 26
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me shall never die.
GOSPEL Mt 20, 17-28
The chief priests and scribes will condemn Jesus to death.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
When Jesus planned to go to Jerusalem
he took the twelve aside and spoke to them on the way:
“Now we are going to Jerusalem ,
where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes .
And will be handed over to the scribes.
“They will condemn him to death
and hand him over to the pagans
to be mocked, scourged and crucified;
But on the third day he shall rise again”.
At that moment, the mother of the sons of Zebedee entered.
Came with them to Jesus
and threw herself at his feet to ask him a question.
He spoke to her:
“What do you desire?”
She answered him:
“That these two boys of mine may sit in your kingdom,
one at your right hand and one at your left”.
But Jesus replied:
“You do not know what you are asking.
“Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?
They said to him:
“Yes, we can”.
He spoke:
“Certainly, you will drink My cup ,
but it is not for Me
to sit at My right hand or at My left hand ,
for only those for whom my Father has prepared it
for whom my Father has prepared it.
When the other ten heard this
they were angry with the two brothers.
Jesus, however, called them to Himself and spoke:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles
rule them with an iron fist
and that the great ones abuse their power over them.
“So it should not be with you;
whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant
and whoever wants to be first among you
must be your slave,
as the Son of Man
did not come to be served
but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
211. But this education, intended to create an “ecological citizenship”, is sometimes limited to providing information and fails to mature habits. In the long run, the existence of laws and norms is not enough to limit bad behaviour, even if there is sufficient control. For a legal norm to have a significant and lasting effect, it is necessary that the majority of members of society, based on adequate justifications, have accepted the norm and respond accordingly with personal change. Only through the development of healthy virtues is it possible to engage ecologically. If someone habitually dresses a bit fatter instead of turning on the heating, even if his own economic circumstances allow him to consume and spend more, it presupposes that he has acquired convictions and a willingness to care for the environment. Taking on the task of caring for creation in small, everyday actions is very noble, and it is brilliant that education is able to motivate these in such a way that they become a way of life. Education for environmental responsibility can encourage various behaviours that have a direct and significant impact on caring for the environment, such as avoiding using plastic or paper, reducing water consumption, separating waste, cooking only what you can reasonably eat, treating other living things with care, using public transport or car-sharing, planting trees, turning off lights that make no sense, and so on. This is all part of a noble and dignified creativity that shows the best of human beings. Reusing something rather than disposing of it quickly for deep reasons can be an act of love that expresses our dignity.
Continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
Netherlands Bible Society 2004/2007.
Reflections on liturgical suggestions for the week and on Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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