This free souvenir was introduced by Pope
Innocent XI as an expression of gratitude.
Invitation
May I draw your attention to
the daily Gospel reading
This invitation aims to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, without exception
can experience that joy by opening his or her heart
to the healing power of God’s Word.
Available every day
Consideration
Is it permissible to eat meat sacrificed to idols? In fact, some of this meat was simply traded. For Paul, this is an opportunity to talk about true freedom and ultimately the love that builds all things. In itself, eating sacrificed meat is not a problem. Since idols do not exist, such food cannot be defiled. The only problem is disturbing others. Here Paul is simultaneously very broad-minded and very sensitive. He takes his brother’s conscience into account.
FIRST READING I Cor. 8:1b-7,10-13
By sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience
wounding their conscience, you sin against Christ.
From the holy apostle Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth.
Brothers and sisters,
Knowledge alone leads to conceit,
it is love that builds up.
If someone thinks he has knowledge
he does not yet know in the right way.
But he who loves is known.
As for eating sacrificial meat,
we know that in all the world there is no idol and that there is no God but One.
For although there are so-called gods
in heaven or on earth
– and in that sense there are undoubtedly gods and lords in multitude -….
yet for us there is but one God:
The Father, from whom all things emanate and to whom we are destined,
and one Lord :
Jesus Christ, through whom everything exists and through whom we exist in particular.
Meanwhile, not everyone possesses this knowledge.
Some, still accustomed to idolatry, regard meat as sacrificed to idols,
consider meat as sacrificed to gods,
they only consider it as such
and their conscience – weak as it is – is infected by it.
If such a person sees you, with your ‘knowledge
in a temple of idols sees you partaking of a meal ,
will that weak person not eat sacrificial meat and violate his conscience?
And violate his conscience?
Then the weak person will be lost as a result of his ‘knowledge’,
the brother for whom Christ died.
By sinning against the brethren
and hurting their anxious conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if my eating offends my brother
I will not eat meat forever
lest I offend my brother.
INTERLUDIUM Ps 139(138), 1-3, 13-14ab, 23-24
Guide me, O Lord, on tried paths.
You know me, O Lord, and see me passing by,
You see me where I go or where I am.
You know my thoughts from afar,
You know why I labour or rest.
You have created what is within me,
You formed me like a tissue in my mother’s womb.
I thank You for the miracle of my life,
for all the wonderful works You have done.
Search me, O God, and search my heart,
test me and judge my character.
See if I sometimes err
And lead me in tried ways.
ALLELUIA Phil. 2:15-16
Alleluia.
Shine like stars in the universe,
Hold the word of life.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 6:27-38
Be merciful as your Father is merciful.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
‘To you who hear me I say :
Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
Bless those who curse you
and pray for those who mistreat you.
‘If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if someone takes off your outer garment
do not prevent him from taking off your underwear.
‘Give to anyone who asks you anything,
and if anyone takes from you what is yours
do not ask him for it.
‘As you want them to treat you
do to them as you want them to do to you.
‘If you love the one you love
what right do you have to gratitude?
‘Even sinners love those they love.
‘If you do good to those who do you favours, what right do you have to give thanks?
‘So do sinners.
‘If ye lend to those whom ye hope to get back ,
what right have ye then to give thanks?
‘So also do sinners lend to sinners
with the intention of getting the same back.
‘Nay,
love thine enemies
do good
and lend without counting on getting anything in return.
‘Then your reward will be great,
then you will be children of the Most High,
for He is also kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be merciful as your Father is merciful.
‘Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.
‘Speak freely
and ye shall be acquitted.
‘Give, and ye shall be given.
and you will be given:
a good measure, mashed, shaken and overflowing, shall be poured into thy lap.
‘The measure that you use
shall also be used for you’.
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
34. If everything is connected, it is hard to think that this global catastrophe
is unconnected. That this global catastrophe is not connected to our way of
looking at reality, in which we pretend to lord and master reality,
in which we pretend to be lord and master of our lives and all that exists.
I do not mean that this is a divine punishment.
Nor would it suffice to say that the damage done to nature ultimately demands
accountability for our abuse of power.
It is reality itself that sighs and rebels.
I am reminded of the poet Virgil’s famous verse
which expresses the woeful human misfortunes expression.
Continued
Every morning at 1am
The Bible text of this edition is from the New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections on liturgical suggestions for weekdays
Fratelli tutti Official English Translation