One of the greatest theologians of the Byzantine tradition.
Died in 749
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
Among the Jews, having meals was much more than simply eating: sitting down to a meal created community, connectedness. Prayer was inherent in the meal, at its beginning and end. In Isaiah’s vision, Zion becomes the centre of the world, to which ‘all’ the nations go to be taught the Law (Torah) of God. A Messiah who brings salvation not just for Israel, but for all peoples: the reading expresses a universalism very unusual for the time. Jesus anticipates this in the multiplication of bread. He fulfils the ancient prophecies, not just by healing, but by holding the holy supper. We may now sit down with the Lord at his table.
FIRST READING Isa 25:6-10a
The Lord invites all to his banquet, and wipes away all tears.
From the prophet Isaiah
In those days the LORD of heavenly powers will, before all nations
on this mountain a banquet;
a banquet of fatty foods,
a banquet of mature wines:
fatty foods prepared with marrow,
mature wine pure as crystal.
On this mountain He will tear the veil
that lies over all nations
and the cloth that lies spread over all nations.
The LORD will destroy death forever;
He will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the shame of his people
away from all the face of the earth.
For so the LORD has decreed.
In that day people will say:
This is our God in whom we hoped,
He has saved us;
this is the LORD in whom we had put our trust;
Let us rejoice and be glad
in the salvation he brought us.
The LORD’s hand protects Mount Zion.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 23(22), 1-3a, 3b-4, 6, 5
The house of the Lord will be my dwelling place
For all times to come.
The Lord is my shepherd, nothing will I lack;
He makes me graze on green fields.
He brings me to water, where I can rest,
He restores my courage.
He guides my steps along straight paths
For His Name’s sake.
Though my way leads through dark gorges,
I fear no evil wherever You lead me.
Thy rod and Thy staff
give me courage and confidence.
You invite me to Your table
to the annoyance of my enemies.
With oil Thou anointest my head,
my cup is overflowing.
Prosperity and blessing never leave me
every day of my life.
The house of the Lord shall be my dwelling
for all times to come.
ALLELUIA Isa 33:22
Alleluia.
The Lord is our judge, lawgiver and king ;
He will deliver us.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 15:29-37
Jesus heals several sick people and multiplies loaves of bread.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
In those days, Jesus once passed by the Sea of Galilee.
He went up the mountain and sat down there.
Numerous people flocked to Him,
who were lame, infirm, blind,
the dumb and many others
to lay them down at His feet.
He healed them, to the amazement of the people
who saw how the dumb spoke and the infirm became healthy,
the lame walked and the blind could see.
And they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and spoke:
‘I have compassion on all these people ,
because they have been staying with Me for three days,
so that they are now without food;
but I will not let them go
without their having eaten first ,
because I fear that otherwise they will succumb on the way.’
The disciples, however, remarked:
‘In such a lonely place, where are we going to get
get enough bread to satiate all these people?’
Jesus asked them:
‘Then how many loaves do you have?’
‘Seven – they replied – and some fish.’
After He ordered the people to sit on the ground
He took the seven loaves and the fishes
Which He broke after speaking the prayer of thanksgiving,
and gave them to the disciples, who again gave them to the people.
All ate until they were satisfied
and of the remaining chunks
they collected another seven full baskets.
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical
By Pope Francis
On brotherhood and social friendship
117. When we speak of caring for the common
home that is the planet, we appeal to this minimum of universal
awareness and attention to mutual care that can still be present in people.
After all, if someone has water left over and he still
saves it because he thinks of humanity, it is because he has reached a moral
level that allows him to rise above himself and his
belonging to a group. That is wonderfully human! The same
attitude is required to recognise the rights of every human being,
even if it is born outside its own borders.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition is taken from The New Bible Translation,
© Netherlands Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays.
Fratelli tutti English translation