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
Mark’s catechesis is very practical. He talks about the weak and the strong in our community. Doing small things for each other out of an evangelical love has enormous power because it helps us move forward on the path of discipleship. Every step we take towards others is a step taken on the (cross) way of the Lord. The choices we make in the process will happen from Christ and they will define our lives.
FIRST READING James 5, 1-6
The wages which thou hast withheld from the labourers cry aloud,
and their cries have reached the ear of the Lord.
From the letter of the holy apostle James
Brothers and sisters,
ye who are rich:
weep and wail for the calamities that come upon you.
Thy wealth is rotten,
thy fine clothes are marred by moths,
thy gold and silver is rusty.
This rust will testify against you
and like fire consume thy flesh.
Treasures hast thou gathered,
while these are the last days.
Hear,
the wages thou hast withheld
To the labourers who mowed thy fields,
cries loudly,
and the cries of thy harvesters have penetrated
To the ears of the Lord of heavenly powers.
Thou hast swelled and scalded on earth,
thou hast fattened for the day of slaughter.
Thou hast sentenced and murdered the righteous;
he hath no defence against thee.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 49(48), 14-15ab, 15cd-16, 17-18, 19-20
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for to them belongs the kingdom of heaven
(Mt. 5,3).
So it goes with those who rely on themselves,
who boast of riches ; this is their fate :
They stand before the underworld like sheep ,
death is their shepherd and drives them there.
Their stateliness goes to dissolution,
their dwelling place is henceforth the kingdom of the dead.
But God will save me from destruction,
He will preserve me from death and the grave.
So do not lose heart when someone becomes rich,
when in his house wealth is ever growing.
He will not be able to take anything with him when he dies,
his wealth will not go with him into the grave.
Though during his life he praises himself happily :
you are to be envied, you will do well ;
yet he must one day join his fathers
who will never again see the light of the sun.
ALLELUIA John 17, 17b, a
Alleluia.
Your word is truth, Lord,
consecrate us to Thee in truth.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk. 9, 41-50
It is better for you to enter life maimed
than to enter hell in the possession of two hands.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :
“If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink
because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you :
his wages shall certainly not escape him.
“But if anyone
gives any of these little ones who believe cause to sin ,
it would be better for him
If one put a millstone around his neck and threw him into the sea.
“Does thy hand threaten to give thee occasion for sin ,
cut it off ;
it is better for thee to enter life maimed
than to enter hell in the possession of two hands,
into the unquenchable fire.
“Does thy foot give thee occasion for sin ,
cut it off ;
it is better for you to enter life crippled
than to be cast into hell in possession of two feet.
Does thy eye give thee occasion for sin,
pluck it out;
It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye
than to be cast into hell in the possession of two eyes,
where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
“Everyone will be salted with fire.
“The salt is a good thing;
but if the salt becomes saltless
with what will you restore its flavour ?
“Have salt in yourselves
And live in peace with one another.”
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APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM
OF THE HOLY FATHER
POPE FRANCISCUS
TO ALL PEOPLE
OF GOOD WILL
47. COP21 in Paris (2015) represented another important moment because it led to
an agreement involving everyone. It can be seen as
a new beginning, given that the previously set targets were not met. The
agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016. Although it is a binding
agreement, not all of its provisions are obligations in the strict sense, and
some of them allow a wide margin of discretion. In any case, there are actually
no provisions for sanctions in the event of non-fulfilment of obligations, nor
effective instruments to ensure their fulfilment. The agreement provides
also some flexibility in the case of developing countries.
To be continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Deum Official English translation
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