Friday – Saint Damiaan De Veuster, pr.

Father Damien. Apostle of the lepers

May I 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, without exception

can experience that joy by opening his or her heart

to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

In the repetition, we saw how catechesis was often minimal in the beginning. Nor does Paul stay that long in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens to teach. That is why it is so surprising that he stays in Corinth for a year and a half. This unusual course of events is explained in Luke by a vision. Corinth is to become an important Christian congregation and Paul is to make a special effort there. There is something else special in this text. Gallio is the brother of the philosopher and was proconsul in 50-51. This becomes an important element for us in dating Paul’s stay in Corinth and his first letter to the Thessalonians.

When Paul was in Corinth

the Lord spoke to him in a night vision:

“Do not be afraid.

Do not speak and be silent.

“I am with you

and no one will touch you to harm you

for in this city many people belong to me”.

For a year and a half he stayed there

while he taught the word of God.

But under the proconsulship of Gallio in Achaia

the Jews turned against Paul as one and brought him to justice.

And brought him to justice.

They declared:

“This man is trying to persuade the people

to the unlawful worship of God”.

Paul was just about to say something

when Galion replied to the Jews:

“If it were about some injustice or serious crime, Jews ,

I would of course listen to you patiently.

“But the disputes are about a word ,

about names and about that law of yours ,

then you must see for yourselves.

“In that I will not be a judge.”

He threw them out of his court.

Now they all threw themselves on Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue,

and flogged him in court.

Gallio did not care.

Paul stayed there for many days,

then he said goodbye to the brothers

and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila.

Earlier, in Cenchreae, he had cut off his hair, for he was under oath.

for he was under oath.

God is king over all the earth.

Or: Alleluia

All nations, clap your hands

Rejoice before God with shouts of joy.

For great is the Lord and mighty is he in all places

A mighty prince over all the earth.

He gives us the nations

and nations he lays at our feet.

He chooses the inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, his beloved.

God ascends the throne under great cheers,

the Lord with trumpet blast.

Sing now to God, let your song resound

For our king a song of praise!

Alleluia.

I came forth from the Father

And I have come into the world ;

again I leave the world and go to the Father.

Alleluia.

At that moment, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Truly, truly, I say to you :

you will weep and mourn

but the world will rejoice.

“You will be sorrowful,

But your sorrow will be turned into joy.

“When a woman is about to give birth, she is grieved

because her hour has come

but when she has brought the child into the world

she no longer thinks of the pain,

but of the joy that a human being has come into the world.

“So you too will be sad now,

but when I see you again, your heart will rejoice.

And your joy no one will be able to take away from you.

“On that day, you will ask me nothing.”

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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM

FROM THE HOLY FATHER

TO ALL NATIONS

OF GOOD WILL

34. Although “our days seem to show signs of a certain decadence….

each new generation must embrace the struggles and achievements of previous generations while raising the bar even higher.

adopt, while raising the bar even higher. This is the way. Kindness, along with

love, justice and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all, but must be realised every day.

must be realised every day. [24] To make solid and lasting progress,

I urge that “preference be given to multilateral agreements between states”.

multilateral agreements between states”. [25]

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 Deum Official English translation

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