Born in 1486. Canonised in 1767.
Founder of the order of regular clergy of Somasca in 1528.
Invitation
I would like to draw your attention to
The daily reading of the Gospel
This invitation wants 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
Like Ecclesiastes, Job struggles with the apparent absurdity of chaotic human existence. The traditional theory of retribution within this earthly existence no longer serves. There is tremendous momentum at the beginning of this story: I alone … me alone … me alone … me alone. It is a masterpiece of Eastern storytelling.
FIRST READING Job 1, 6-22
It was the Lord who gave, it was the Lord who took away,
blessed be his name.
From the book of Job
On a certain day
the messengers of the Lord stood before God,
and Satan too was in their midst.
Then the Lord spoke to Satan:
‘Where did you come from now?’
Satan answered the Lord :
‘I have wandered over the earth and migrated to and fro’.
Then the Lord spoke to Satan:
‘Have you also seen my servant Job
and have you noticed that no one on earth is like him?
A very blameless and righteous man
who fears God and hates evil?’
Satan replied.
‘Is Job then sometimes afraid of God for nothing?
‘Did You not yourself protect him and his family
and surrounded everything he has with a hedge?
‘Have You not blessed all his work ,
And did You not flood his flock into the earth?
‘But once You stretch out Your hand
and smite him in all he has;
Then shall he curse thee in thy face.’
Then the Lord spoke to Satan:
‘Very well then, all he has is in Your hand!
‘But don’t touch him!’
Then Satan turned away from the Lord’s face.
And it happened one day
that all the sons and daughters
were eating in the house of the eldest brother;
Then a messenger came to Job and said:
‘Your oxen were ploughing,
the donkeys were grazing nearby.
Then the Sabeans invaded,
stole all the cattle
and killed all your servants with the sword;
Only I escaped and I report this to you’.
As he spoke, a second messenger came and said:
‘The fire of God struck from heaven ,
burned and consumed the sheep and the shepherds;
I alone escaped and I report this to you’.
As he spoke, another came and said :
‘The Chaldeans had formed three groups,
They raided the camels and looted them;
the servants were wounded
with the sharpness of the sword;
Only I escaped and I am telling you this’.
As he spoke, another came and said:
‘Your sons and daughters ate and drank in the house of the eldest brother
and behold, a great storm came from the wilderness
and it struck the house at the four corners;
the house fell upon the young men, and they perished.
I alone escaped, and I report this to you.’
Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head;
He threw himself on the ground and prayed thus:
‘Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb
and naked I return there again;
It was the Lord who gave, it was the Lord who took,
blessed be his name’.
In all these strokes, Job did not sin
and spoke no foolish words against God.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 17(16), 1, 2-3, 6-7
Now I call on you, O Lord, for you will hear me,
turn your ear to me, listen to my voice.
Hear, O Lord, for my cause is righteous
hear my loud cry.
You will hear my prayer:
My lips deceive Thee not.
From Thee I await my judgement,
Thy eyes see what is mine.
Look into my heart, go after me in the night,
Or try me with fire:
Thou shalt not find in me iniquity.
Now I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me;
Turn Thy ear to me, hear my voice.
Show me the greatness of Thy mercy,
Saviour of all who flee into Thy hand.
Alleluia Ps. 24(25), 4c, 5a
Alleluia.
Teach me to know Your ways, O Lord;
Lead me according to Your Word.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 9, 46-50
The least among you all is the greatest.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
In those days the disciples were asked the question
which of them was really the greatest.
But Jesus, who knew what they were thinking
took a small child, placed it beside them and spoke to them:
‘Whoever takes this child in My name takes Me;
and whoever exalts Me, exalts Him who sent Me.
‘Therefore the least among you all is the greatest’.
John took the floor and said
‘Master, we have seen someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to stop him
because he is not one of your disciples like us’.
But Jesus said to him:
‘Do not hinder him.
‘For he who is not against you is for you’.
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
52. Breaking down someone’s self-esteem is an easy way to dominate him.
Behind the tendencies to homogenise the world
are power interests that benefit from low self-esteem.
The moment they try to create a new self-esteem through media and networks
they try to create a new culture in the service of the most powerful people
who create them. From this benefits the opportunism of financial speculation
and exploitation, where it is always the poor who lose. On the other hand
ignoring the culture of a people means that many political leaders are unable to
promote an effective project that is
freely accepted and sustainable over time.
Continue
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
The New Bible Translation, ©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations of liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Fratelli tutti Official English translation
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