Pope John XXIII was born 25/11/1881 and died 3/6/1963
Canonised on 27/04/2014 by Pope Francis
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
‘For freedom Christ has made us free.’ New in the Galatians letter is the teaching on justification by faith, versus justification by works. We find this even more strongly developed in the letter to Romans written shortly afterwards. The freedom from the Law applies not only to Gentiles, but also to Jews. The teaching from the Torah is clearly put into perspective here: an enduring stumbling block in the relationship between Christians and Jews.
FIRST READING Gal. 3:7-14
Those who lean on faith are
blessed with Abraham
From the holy apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians
Brothers and sisters,
Ye see it :
the people of faith ,
these are the children of Abraham.
And since the Scriptures foresaw
that God would justify the heathen nations by faith ,
it proclaimed to Abraham in advance the gospel :
‘In you all nations will be blessed.’
Those who rely on faith
are thus blessed with Abraham,
the man of faith.
But those who rely on keeping the law,
are under a curse.
After all, it is written :
‘Cursed is every one
who does not meticulously
keeps all the precepts in the book of the law.’
Besides, it is clear
that no one comes to terms with God through a law
for, we read :
‘He who is justified by faith ,
shall live.’
Well, the law has nothing to do with believing
but with doing :
‘He who does these things shall live’ it says.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law
by himself becoming a cursed one for us.
After all, it is written :
‘Cursed is everyone
who is hung on a pole.
It was God’s intention
that through Jesus Christ
Abraham’s blessing would also come upon the Gentile nations,
that we might receive the promised Spirit
through faith.
Interludium Ps. 111(110), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Always God remembers his covenant.
Alleluia.
To the Lord I give thanks from all my heart,
in the midst of the pious, for all the congregation.
Great is all that He performs,
captivating the attention of all who contemplate it.
Gentleness and majesty speak from His deeds,
eternally He remains just and faithful.
Miracles He performed never to be forgotten,
affable and loving, the Lord shows Himself.
Food He gives to those who honour Him,
always remembering His covenant.
He showed His people the power of His deeds
and gave them possession of the pagan land.
ALLELUIA John 6, 64b, 69b
Alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;
your words are words of eternal life.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 11, 15-26
If by the finger of God I cast out devils ,
then indeed the kingdom of God has come to you.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
Once when Jesus had cast out a devil
some said :
‘By Beelzebub, the prince of devils He drives out devils.’
Others – to put Him to the test –
desired from Him a sign from heaven.
But He knew their thoughts and spoke to them :
‘Every kingdom that is inwardly divided decays into a wasteland ;
one house falls upon another.
‘If now Satan too is at odds with himself ,
how can his kingdom stand?
‘For you say that through Beelzebub I cast out devils.
‘If by Beelzebub I cast out devils ,
by whom do your sons cast them out?
‘Therefore they shall be your judges.
‘But if by the finger of God I cast out devils ,
then indeed the kingdom of God has come to you.
‘When a strong man, well armed, guards his house and court ,
his property is safe.
‘However, if someone stronger than him comes and overcomes him ,
then this one robs his full equipment,
on which he put his trust,
and divides what he possesses as booty.
‘Whoever is not with Me is against Me,
and whoever does not gather with Me, he scatters.
‘When the unclean spirit leaves a man
he goes wandering around in barren lands seeking rest.
‘If he does not find it then he says :
I return to my home which I have left.
‘On his arrival he finds it cleaned and in order.
‘Then he joins seven other spirits,
even worse than himself ;
they move in and take up residence there.
‘The latter is worse for that man than the former.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
The abandoned one
63. Jesus tells that there was a wounded man, on the ground by the roadside,
who had been attacked. Several persons passed him, but they
passed by, they did not stop. They were people with important
positions in society, whom love for the common good did not
at heart. They were unable to spare a few minutes to
assist the injured or at least seek help. One stopped;
he has been near him; he has tended him with his own
hands; he paid out of his own pocket and took care of them. He
has especially given him something that we in this hectic world so desperately
economise on: he has given him his time. He certainly had his own
plans to use that day in accordance with his own needs
obligations or desires. But he was able to put everything
set aside for that wounded person, and without knowing him, he made him
deemed worthy to receive the gift of his time.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition 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