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 reading from Isaiah may go back to the fourth century. The word of God is like a fertile rain. It does its work regardless. Yet this reading reminds us of the parable of the seed. The seed is never sown fruitlessly. It brings forth fruit. But the rain also falls like the seed on the rocky ground or on the hard road. Thus, the Word of God often ends up on hard, inaccessible soil. Man who closes himself off cannot receive that Word. Perhaps it works anyway – it is a dangerous thought – hardening instead of fertilising. Didn’t we used to speak of grace given in vain?
FIRST READING Isa 55:10-11
My word does not return until it has accomplished my will and fulfilled its mission.
From the Prophet Isaiah
This is how God the Lord speaks :
‘As the rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
When they have watered the earth,
have fertilized it so that it becomes green,
when they have given the seed to the sower
and the bread to the eater,
so shall it be with the word
that comes out of My mouth ;
it does not return to Me fruitlessly ;
it returns only when it has accomplished My Will
and has fulfilled its mission.’
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 34(33), 4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
To the pious who cry out, the Lord listens
and rescues them from every need.
Glorify the Lord together with me
and let us worship His Name in unison.
I went to the Lord and He heard me,
He saved me from all that I feared.
Abide in Him, then you will become happy,
for He will not fail you.
Those crying out in distress, to them the Lord listens
And rescues them from their misery.
The eye of the Lord is upon the pious,
His ear turned to their pleading.
From evildoers He turns His face away,
they are forgotten on earth.
To the pious who cry out the Lord listens
And rescues them from every need.
The Lord is near to grieving hearts,
he helps those who acknowledge their guilt.
VERS FOR THE GOSPEL Mt 4, 4b
Not from bread alone does man live,
but from all that proceeds from the mouth of God.
GOSPEL Mt. 6, 7-15
Thou must pray thus.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time Jesus said to his disciples :
‘When ye pray
do not use repetition like the pagans ;
|for they think
that by their multitude of words they will be heard.
‘Therefore do not follow their example ,
For before you ask Him
your Father knows what ye need.
‘Thou must therefore pray thus :
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but preserve us from evil.
‘For if you forgive to men their faults
your heavenly Father will also forgive you ;
but if ye forgive not men
your heavenly Father also will not forgive your faults.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On Fraternity and Social Friendship
214. For agnostics, this foundation may seem sufficient to confer a
solid and stable universal validity to fundamental
and non-negotiable ethical principles in order to avoid new catastrophes.
For believers, human nature, is the source of ethical
principles, created by God, which ultimately provides these principles with a
solid foundation. This does not lead to ethical rigidity, nor does
it paves the way for the imposition of a single moral system, because the
fundamental and universally valid moral principles can lead to
different systems of practical norms. Therefore, there always remains room
for dialogue.
To be continued
Every day at 7 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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