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
‘We cannot honestly call God our Father if we carry within us a petrified and little human heart.’ (Saint John Chrysostom). So when we say Our Father to God, we do not limit ourselves to strictly personal interests: a Christian’s prayer should never be isolated. Whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer we can unite it with that of all praying believers: with the mother of a sick child, with the student who fears for his exams, with the leader in the youth movement who pays attention, with the company manager who has to close the doors.
FIRST READING Sir. 48, 1-14
Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind ,
but Elisha was filled with his spirit.
From the Book of Ecclesiasticus
Elijah the prophet rose up like a fire ;
his word burned like a torch ;
he brought famine upon the people
and in his zeal for the Lord he made it few in number.
By the word of the Lord he closed the heavens ,
and likewise he sent down fire three times.
How glorious were ye, Elijah, by your miracles :
Who can boast like thee?
Thou, who hast raised a dead man from the dead,
out of the kingdom of the dead, by the word of the Most High;
Who hast led kings into destruction,
and great ones from their battlefields into death;
Who heard reproof on the Sinai
and on the Horeb judgments of vengeance ;
who anointed kings to execute retribution
and prophets as thy successors ;
who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire
on a chariot with fiery horses ;
of whom it is written that he is destined for the time
when he shall appease the wrath of God before it ignites,
will turn the hearts of the fathers to the son
and will raise up the tribes of Jacob.
Happy are those who have seen you
And slept in love.
For we too shall surely live.
This was Elijah, hidden from view in a whirlwind.
But Elisha was filled with his spirit ;
in his days he trembled before no ruler
and no one in the world overwhelmed him.
Nothing was beyond his powers
and still in death sleep his body prophesied ;
in his life he performed miracles
and at his death his works were miraculous.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 97(96), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
Be glad in the Lord, ye pious.
The Lord is king, the earth may rejoice,
glad are the lands around the sea.
Dark clouds form his bodyguard,
law and justice bear his throne.
Blazing flames trot forth,
devouring all around his combatants.
Lightning bolts illuminate his path,
the earth watches with dismay.
Mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
the ruler of all the world.
The heavens proclaim his holiness
and all nations behold his glory.
Those who worship images are put to shame,
those who go big on their idols.
Before Him all gods prostrate themselves.
ALLELUIA Ps. 111 (110), 8ab
Alleluia.
The Lord’s work is good and trustworthy,
all that He decrees stands immovable.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt. 6, 7-15
Thou must pray thus.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time Jesus said to his disciples :
‘When ye pray ,
do not use repetition, like the pagans;
for these think
that by their multitude of words they will find hearing.
‘Therefore follow not their example ,
for before you ask Him
your Father knows what ye need.
‘Thou must therefore pray thus :
Our Father who art in heaven ,
hallowed be thy Name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And lead us not into temptation,
but preserve us from evil.
‘For if you forgive to men their faults
your heavenly Father will also forgive you ;
but if ye forgive not men
neither will your heavenly Father forgive your faults.’
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To be continued
Daily at 1 am
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
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