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
Religious leaders are taking on troublemakers like Jeremiah and Jesus. In doing so, they strain the people themselves. This day’s scriptures reveal a sharp indictment. For their own benefit, people often play along with the powerful. You have to have experienced it yourself to realise what people dare to do to each other. Jeremiah, Jesus: their story continues to this day. “We cut down the tree in its full power. We banish it from the land of the living, so that its name will no longer be called”.
FIRST READING Jer. 11, 18-20
I was unsuspecting like a lamb led to slaughter.
From the Prophet Jeremiah
When God the Lord warned me, I only realised ;
thou hast indeed shown me their plans.
I was careless
like a lamb led to the slaughter ;
I did not suspect what they were plotting against me :
We cut down the tree in its full strength.
We banish it from the land of the living,
so that his name shall be called no more.
Lord, God of heavenly powers,
thy judgement is just,
Thou fathomest heart and soul.
Show me then, how Thou dost avenge Thyself on them;
For I have placed my cause in Thy hands.
Interludium Ps. 7, 2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12
Lord my God, to Thee I flee.
Lord, my God, to You I flee,
Deliver me from my persecutors.
Otherwise the lions drag me down,
they tear me to pieces without rescue.
Deliver me justice according to merit,
because I am not guilty.
End injustice, affirm justice,
righteous God, who knows hearts.
The shield that covers me is God,
sincere hearts He protects.
He is a just judge,
an ever-threatening God.
VERS FOR THE GOSPEL Ps. 51(50), 12a and 14a
Create in me a pure heart, my God,
give me again the opulence of your blessing.
GOSPEL John 7, 40-53
Does the Messiah sometimes come from Galilee ?
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
On hearing Jesus’ words
some of the people said :
“This is indeed the prophet.”
Others said :
“It is the Messiah.”
Still others raised :
“Does the Messiah sometimes come from Galilee?
“Has not the Scripture said
that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David
and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So for His sake there arose divisions among the people.
Some of them wanted to take Him captive,
but no one laid hands on Him.
When, therefore, the servants
returned to the high priests and Pharisees
these asked them :
“Why did ye not bring Him?”
The servants replied :
“Never has anyone spoken like that man.”
Whereupon the Pharisees said :
“Hast thou sometimes also been deceived?
“Did then any of the authorities
or of the Pharisees believe in Him?
“That people, yea,
that know not the Law,
cursed are they!”
But one from their circle, Nicodemus
who had earlier come to Jesus remarked :
“Does our Law condemn someone
without first hearing him and hearing what he does?”
They answered him :
“Art thou also sometimes from Galilee?
“Search and ye shall see
that the prophet does not rise from Galilee.”
Then each went home.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
228. Caring for nature is part of a lifestyle that includes the ability to live together and in community. Jesus reminded us that we have God as our common Father and that this makes us brothers and sisters. Fraternal can only be disinterested, can never be a compensation for what another accomplishes, nor an advance on what we hope he does. This is why it is possible to love our enemies. This same disinterestedness leads us to love and accept the wind, the sun or the clouds, even though they do not submit to our control. This is why we can speak of a universal brotherhood.
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 translation in English
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