Lived from 225-251 at the time of the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius.
One of the best-known saints and martyrs.
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.
Consideration
The Apocalypse also has this word that comes from the book of Proverbs: ‘The Lord disciplines those he loves’ (3.12). One has to be very careful with such expression. Suffering can purge: Suffering can make one bitter and despairing. Suffering should never be sought in isolation (dolorism). Never say such words to a sick or suffering person: ‘Our Lord must love you very much’. In fact, gospel as a whole is a cry to relieve the suffering of one’s fellow man and keep it out as much as possible.
FIRST READING Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15
The Lord disciplines those he loves.
From the letter to the Hebrews
Brothers and sisters,
Your battle against sin has not yet cost you blood.
You have forgotten the scripture
that addresses and admonishes you as children :
‘Child, despise not the discipline of the Lord,
do not let his punishment discourage you.
‘For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
He punishes every one whom He acknowledges as His child.’
Suffering serves to improve and educate you ;
God treats you like children.
Every child does get punished by his father at some point.
Discipline is never pleasant,
in the moment there is more sorrow than joy;
but in the long run
for those who let themselves be shaped by it, it produces
the salutary fruit of a holy life.
Therefore, lift up the limp hands,
stretch out the wobbly knees,
let your feet go straight ways;
the lame member must not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with all men
and to a holy life,
for without it no one will see the Lord.
Beware that none of you forfeit the grace of God.
Do not let bitter, noxious weeds spring up
that poisons your whole congregation.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 103(102), 1-2, 13-14, 17-18a
God’s mercy endures forever and ever,
righteous is He for generation after generation.
Glorify, my soul, the Lord,
His holy Name from the depths of your being!
Glorify, my soul, the Lord,
forget not his benefits !
As much as a father loves his children,
so much does the Lord love His servants.
Surely He knows from what He made man,
He remembers that we are but dust.
But God’s mercy endures forever and ever,
righteous is He to generation after generation,
for all who faithfully negotiate His covenant.
ALLELUIA John 8, 12
Alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord ;
He who follows Me shall possess the light of life.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk. 6, 1-6
A prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own city.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Mark
At that time
Jesus went to his father city
and His disciples went with Him.
When it was Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue.
The numerous hearers asked in amazement :
‘Where did He get that from?
‘And what wisdom is this that was bestowed on Him ?
‘And what wonders are these that His hands perform?
‘Is not that the carpenter, the son of Mary
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon ?
And they took offence at this.
But Jesus spoke to them:
‘A prophet is honoured everywhere
except in his own city,
among his relatives and in his own circle.’
He could do no miracle there,
except that He healed a small number of sick people
whom He laid hands on.
He stood amazed at their unbelief.
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
180. Recognising every human being as a brother or sister and striving for
a social friendship that includes all are not mere utopias.
They require the decision and ability to find efficient pathways
that guarantee their real possibility. Any commitment in
that direction becomes an ultimate practice of charity. For an
individual can help a needy person, but when one joins with
others to unite to create social processes of brotherhood and
justice for all, one enters the ‘terrain
of the broadest charity, of political charity’. It is
about bringing closer a social and political order whose soul is the
social love is’. Once again, I invite you to reassess politics
evaluation, which is ‘a very high calling, one of the most precious forms
of charity, because it seeks the common good’.
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.
Reflections from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Fratelli tutti Official English translation
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