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
Recognising civil authorities, Jesus instructs Christians to fulfil their duties towards them. But he also urges them to distinguish between politics and religion. The two domains should not merge. Deciding what belongs to God and what to the emperor, but not playing them both off against each other: that, for Jesus, is the way to go. After all, by loyally participating in civil society – in the city of men – it is possible to realise the city of God as well.
FIRST READING 2 Petr. 3, 12-15a.17-18
We expect new heavens and a new earth.
From the second letter of the holy apostle Peter
Brothers and sisters,
Expect and hasten the coming of the day of God,
by which the heavens will burst into flames
and the elements melt away in the glow of fire.
But according to the promise of the Lord
we expect new heavens
and a new earth,
where righteousness will dwell.
In this expectation, beloved, ye must strive
to appear immaculate and blameless before Him,
at peace with God.
And consider the respite
which the Lord in his longsuffering grants you
as a grace for salvation.
Friends,
ye are thus warned.
Beware lest ye be carried away
on the erring ways of the wicked ;
do not give up your position.
Increase in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory,
now and for ever!
Interludium Ps. 90(89), 2, 3-4, 10, 14, 16
Thou, Lord, hast always been our refuge
for every generation anew.
Before the mountains were born,
before the earth was brought forth,
art Thou, God, from everlasting to everlasting.
That which is mortal perishes again to dust,
Thou sayest : return, child of man !
To Thee a thousand years are one day,
as yesterday that is already past,
an hour of sleep in the night.
The measure of our life is seventy years,
or if we are very strong eighty.
Most of it is still agony and worry,
and soon comes the hour of departure.
From now on, grant us your richest blessing
and let all our lives be happy.
Show to thy servants what thou art capable of
and show to their sons Thy glory.
Alleluia 2 Tim. 1, 10b
Alleluia.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ has destroyed death,
and lit up imperishable life
through the gospel.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk. 12, 13-17
Give to the emperor what is due to the emperor
and to God what is due to God.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
In those days
the high priests, scribes and elders sent
some Pharisees and Herodians upon Jesus
to detain Him.
These came to Him asking:
“Master, we know that Thou art sincere
And trouble Thyself about no one,
for Thou seest not men according to their eyes,
but teach the way of God in sincerity.
Is it lawful
to pay taxes to the emperor or not?
Shall we pay him or not?”
But Jesus, seeing through their hypocrisy, replied:
“Why are you trying to catch Me?
Give Me a tenling, and I will see.”
They did so.
Jesus now asked them:
“Whose is this pictorial and edge lettering?”
They replied:
“From the emperor.”
Thereupon Jesus spoke to them:
“Then give to the emperor what is due to the emperor
and to God what is due to God.”
And they stood amazed at Him.
_______________________________________________________
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM
FROM THE HOLY FATHER
POPE FRANCISCUS
TO ALL PEOPLE
OF GOOD WILL
59. If there is genuine interest in making COP28 a historic event
that honours and ennobles us as human beings, then one can only hope for
binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they are efficient,
mandatory and easy to monitor. This is to ensure that a new
process that is characterised by three requirements: that it must be drastic and
intense and that it can count on the commitment of everyone. This has not
happened, and only such a process can enable international politics to regain its
credibility again, since only in this concrete way will it be possible
be to significantly reduce CO2 levels and, in time, prevent even greater evils
prevented.
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 Deum Official English translation
_____________________________________________________________________________