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
Opening word
It is Advent again:
there are four candles to light again,
growing light in a dark month and a dark world.
The Light of God wants to dwell among us,in our hearts, in our world.
We may today be the place where He can become human.
Let us watch and pray.
Let us wait and expect,
silently, but with great certainty: He is coming!
All those who by now have dozed a little or are sitting down despondently,
gets to hear it today:
‘Watch and pray and straighten up! Your salvation is at hand!’
As we begin this celebration, let us
open our hearts to the Lord who wants to save us.
FIRST READING Jer. 33:14-16
I grant David a legitimate descendant.
From the prophet Jeremiah
Thus speaks the Lord:
‘A time is coming
when I fulfil the promise I made to Israel and Judah.
‘Then I will grant David a legitimate descendant ,
who will rule the land justly and fairly.
‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will be safe.
‘And the city will be called: Lord, our righteousness.’
Answer Psalm Ps 25(24), 4bc-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
Refrain
To You, Lord, I turn my mind.
Show me Your ways, Lord,
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me according to Your Word,
for Thou art my God and Redeemer.
The Lord is good and righteous,
therefore He shows sinners the way.
He leads the lowly along honourable paths,
He teaches the simple what to do.
The ways of God are good and trustworthy
For every one who keeps his covenant.
A friend is the Lord to those who seek Him,
He shows them the value of His covenant.
SECOND READING 1 Thess. 3, 12 – 4,2
The Lord strengthen your hearts at the coming of Christ.
From the holy apostle Paul’s first letter to the Christians
of Thessalonica
Brothers and sisters,
May the Lord increase you abundantly
in love for one another and for all men
as my love also goes out to you.
He strengthen thy heart,
so that you may be blameless and holy
before the face of God our Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
For the rest, brothers and sisters,
we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus,
that ye take the lore which ye have received from us,
namely the tradition about a way of life
pleasing to God,
observe it even more faithfully than you already do.
Thou knowest the precepts
which we have given you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Verse for the Gospel Ps. 85(84), 8
Alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your mercy
And grant us your salvation.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 21, 25-28,34-36
Your salvation comes near.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There will be signs on the sun, moon and stars
and on the earth peoples will be in fear,
distraught by the roar of the tempestuous sea.
‘People will die of terror,
in suspense at what is about to happen to the world.
‘For the heavenly hosts will be in confusion.
‘Then they will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud,
with power and great glory.
‘When all this begins to take place ,
then arise and lift up your heads
for your salvation is drawing near.’
‘Take care that your minds are not dulled
by an intoxication of drunkenness and the cares of life;
let not that day seize you unawares as in a snare;
for it will come upon all men everywhere.
‘Therefore be ever vigilant and pray
that you may be able to escape
from all those things that are about to take place,
and that you may be able to stand firm
before the face of the Son of Man.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
The value of solidarity
114. I want to emphasise solidarity, which ‘as a moral virtue and
social attitude, fruit of personal conversion, requires a commitment
on the part of a multitude of persons who bear responsibility in
education and formation. My first thought goes to the families, who
are called to a primary and indispensable educational mission. They
constitute the first place where the values of love and brotherhood,
of living and sharing together, attention and care for others
are lived and transmitted. They are also the privileged environment
for the transmission of faith, beginning with the first simple
gestures of devotion that mothers teach their children. As for
educators and trainers who at school or in the various centres for children and young people,
have the demanding task of educating children and young people,
they are called to be aware that their responsibility
relates to the moral, spiritual and social
dimension of the person. The values of freedom, mutual respect and
solidarity can be transmitted from a very early age. […] Also
those working in the fields of culture and social media
have a responsibility in terms of education and
cultivation, especially in today’s societies in which access to
information and communication tools is increasingly widespread’.
To be continued
Every day 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
Fratelli tutti Official English translation
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