Born c 225 in Huesca. Spain. Exercised the office of deacon in Rome.
Beheaded under emperor Valerianus.
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wishes 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
The image of the grain speaks to us. Giving yourself, dying to yourself to bear rich fruit. The grain that falls into the earth is Jesus. Following in his footsteps are also all Christians who have given their lives to others. The dying of the grain happens invisibly for us. Only when the earth sprouts and blossoms open do we see the fruits of the hidden dying. It brings forth life a hundredfold. Dead grain becomes food for many.
FIRST READING 2 Cor. 9, 6-10
God loves a cheerful giver.
From the holy apostle Paul’s second letter to the Christians of
Corinth
Brothers and sisters,
Remember: He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly;
He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.
Let everyone carry out what he has decided in his heart
carry out, without pain and without compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God has power to shower you with all gifts
so that you, always provided in every way with all that you need,
still have plenty left over for every good work.
Thus it is also written :
“He has given abundantly to the poor,
His generosity shall ever remain.”
He who provides the sower with seed and food to eat,
will also provide seed for you and multiply it
and make the harvest of your generosity flourish.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 112(111), 1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
Good goes the man who gives away and borrows.
Happy the man who is in awe of God,
who finds joy in his commandments.
His offspring will be mighty in the land,
blessed will be the generation of the pious.
Well goes the man who gives away and borrows,
who manages his affairs honestly.
In eternity the righteous stands strong,
he will be remembered forever.
From bad tidings he is not afraid,
he continues to trust in the Lord unshaken.
Steadfast and fearless he perseveres
Until he looks down on his enemies.
With mildness he distributes to the poor,
he will never lose his righteousness.
His power and prestige increase continually ;
the sinner will look upon it with envy.
ALLELUIA John 8, 12b
Alleluia.
He who follows me
Does not wander about in darkness,
but shall possess the light of life.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Jn 12:24-26
If anyone serves Me, the Father will honour him.
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 :
If the grain of wheat does not fall into the earth
it remains alone ;
but if it dies
it brings forth much fruit.
“Whoever loves his life loses it ;
but he who hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
“If anyone wants to serve Me, he must follow Me ;
where I am, there shall My servant also be.
‘If anyone serves Me, the Father will honour him.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On brotherhood and social friendship
1. “Fratelli tutti” .With these words, Saint Francis
of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters, introducing them
with a way of life imbued with the flavour of the
Gospel. Of his fraternal exhortations, I would select the one in which he speaks of a love that transcends the boundaries of space
and time and calls blessed all who love their brother as much as
who is far away from him as when he is close to him2. In his simple and direct way, St Francis explained the essence of an open fraternity that allows one to acknowledge, appreciate
and love regardless of his or her physical presence, no matter
where he or she was born or lives.
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
Fratelli tutti Official English translation
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