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 Gospel does not offer an easy recipe that is quickly prepared. From those who want to translate it into concrete actions, it simply requires all or nothing. At the same time, we know that it is impossible to live evangelically and follow Jesus purely in our own strength. Even if we renounce everything, even if we were to give away all possessions, we are still unable to save ourselves and enter the Kingdom of God. Only God Himself can do that. Yet this should not discourage us because: Jesus looked lovingly at the rich young man. It is with this look that He also looks at us, at the people we live with, but also at those we don’t like so much, at those with whom we live in quarrels. What does such a thing do to me?
FIRST READING Sir.17, 24-29
Repent to the Lord and forsake sins.
From the Book of Ecclesiasticus
To penitents who repent, the Lord allows return;
He encourages them when their perseverance falls short.
Repent to the Lord and forsake sins;
pray before Him and give less and less offence.
Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity,
(for He Himself will lead you out of darkness
lead you out of darkness into sound light).
Hate from the bottom of your heart what is an abomination.
Who yet shall praise the Most High in the kingdom of the dead,
like the living who sing Him a song of thanksgiving?
The song of thanksgiving of the dead is lost, as if he no longer existed,
but he who is alive and healthy praises the Lord.
How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and His atoning acts for those who repent to Him!
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 32(31), 1-2, 5, 6, 7
Be glad in the Lord, all the pious.
Happy the one whose fault was forgiven,
whose sin was covered by God.
Happy the one who has no fault with God,
whose heart hides no crime.
I have confessed my sins before You,
denied my guilt no longer.
I spoke : before the Lord I confess my fault ;
then Thou hast forgiven my sin.
Therefore the pious will turn to Thee
when he is threatened by calamity ;
Though a deluge break upon him,
the calamity will not touch him.
My refuge be Thou, my saviour in trouble,
Thou envelopest me in prosperity and joy.
Alleluia Ps. 25(24), 4c, 5a
Alleluia.
Teach me Your paths, Lord ;
Lead me according to Your Word.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mk. 10, 17-27
Go sell what you possess and give it to the poor.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
At that time when Jesus was making his way
someone came running
who threw himself on his knees before Him and asked:
‘Good Master,
what must I do to acquire eternal life?’
Jesus replied:
‘Why do you call Me good?
No one is good but God alone.
Ye know the commandments:
Thou shalt not kill,
thou shalt not commit adultery,
thou shalt not steal,
thou shalt not bear false witness,
thou shalt not wrong anyone,
honour thy father and thy mother.’
He answered Him:
‘All this I have maintained from my childhood.’
Then Jesus looked lovingly at him and spoke:
‘One thing thou lackest:
go sell what thou possess and give it to the poor,
thereby you will possess treasure in heaven,
and then come back to follow Me.’
This word appalled him and disconcerted he went away,
because he possessed many goods.
Then Jesus let his gaze pass over his disciples and said to them:
‘How difficult it is for those who have money
to enter the kingdom of God!’
The disciples were amazed at what He said.
Therefore, Jesus repeated:
‘Children ,
how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God.
For a camel it is easier
to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’
Then they were even more perplexed and they said to each other:
‘Who then can be saved?’
Jesus looked at them and said:
‘This is not in the power of men but in the power of God:
For to God all things are possible.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
The foundation of consensus
206. Relativism is not a solution. Under the veil of an assumed
tolerance, it ultimately encourages moral values to be interpreted by the
powerful to be interpreted according to the convenience of the moment.
Finally, if ‘apart from the satisfaction of one’s aspirations and
immediate needs, neither objective values nor fixed principles
are, […] we cannot think that political programmes or the force
of law will suffice. […] When culture degenerates and one has
no longer recognise any objective truth or universally valid principles,
laws will only be understood as something arbitrarily
imposed, and as obstacles to be avoided’.
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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