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
Suddenly, everything goes so fast. The second missionary journey is heading towards its end at lightning speed, and Paul’s third missionary journey is about to begin, before we realise it. Luke has just, as in the gospel, been able to use sources. One of those sources is certainly an itinerary. Sometimes Luke follows these elementary indications. Sometimes in between he recounts some important incident that he then knows from elsewhere. So too now although the story about Apollos does not fit so well here. Where does it come from? The curious figure of Apollos, who returns in the letter to the Corinthians, remains mostly in obscurity due to lack of texts.
FIRST READING Acts 18, 23-28
Paul proves to Apollos from the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
From the Acts of the Apostles
After Paul had stayed at Antioch for some time,
he left again
and made a tour
successively through the region of Galatia and through Phrygia
to strengthen all the disciples there.
Meanwhile, a Jew had arrived in Ephesus,
Apollos,
an Alexandrian by birth
and an eloquent man
who was seasoned in the scriptures.
He had received instruction in the way of the Lord,
spoke enthusiastically
and taught in detail about everything concerning Jesus,
although he only knew John’s baptism.
He also began to act boldly in the synagogue.
After Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
they took him with them
and explained to him the way of God more precisely.
When he wanted to travel on to Achaia,
the brothers sent a letter to the disciples
asking them to receive him well.
Having arrived there
he was of much use to the believers by his gift of grace,
for powerfully he publicly refuted the Jews
by proving on the basis of the scriptures
that Jesus was the Messiah.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 47(46), 2-3, 8-9, 10
King is God over all the earth.
Or : Alleluia.
All nations, clap their hands,
rejoice before God with joyful shouts.
For great is the Lord and formidable everywhere,
a mighty prince over all the earth.
King is God over all the earth,
so sing a psalm to Him.
King is God over all nations,
seated on His holy throne.
Princes and nations gather there,
united with the people of Abraham’s God.
To God belongs all power on earth,
the Most High is He.
ALLELUIA John 14, 18
Alleluia.
I will not leave you orphaned, says the Lord :
I am going, but I will return to you,
and your heart will rejoice.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Jn 16:23b-28
The Father loves you because you love Me and believe in Me.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :
“Verily, verily, I say unto you :
Whatever you shall ask the Father,
He will give it to you in My Name.
“Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my Name.
“Ask and ye shall obtain
That thy joy may be complete.
“In images I have spoken to you about this ;
an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in images,
but will speak
before you concerning the Father.
“On that day ye shall pray in My Name ;
there is no need to say
that I shall be your intercessor with the Father ,
for the Father himself loves you because you love Me
and because ye believe that I proceeded from God.
“I went forth from the Father and came into the world ;
again I leave the world and go to the Father.”
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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM
FROM THE HOLY FATHER
POPE FRANCISCUS
TO ALL PEOPLE
OF GOOD WILL
35. It does not help to confuse multilateralism with a world authority that is
concentrated in one person or in an elite with excessive power: “If we are talking
talking about the possibility of some form of world authority regulated by law
regulated, we do not necessarily have to think of a personal
authority”. In particular, we are talking about “more effective world organisations, equipped with
the power to provide for the global common good, the eradication of hunger and
poverty and the effective defence of fundamental human rights”. The
problem is that they need to be equipped with real authority, to ensure the
achievement of certain essential goals. In this way, a multilateralism
could emerge that is not dependent on changing political circumstances or the
interests of a few, and that possesses stable effectiveness.
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 Deum Official English translation
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