Invitation
May I ask for your attention for
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation is to share the joy
of the gospel with you. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day.
Consideration
The first reading, the responsorial psalm and the gospel all deal with the radical forgiveness of guilt. The parable of the prodigal son is a parable for all times and for every sinner. Yet the introduction places the parable in a context where Pharisees and scribes are inevitably identified with the older son. They do not accept God’s mercy for the sinner. But do we ourselves accept that mercy as easily as we are asked to grant forgiveness? Do we follow the Father’s example?
FIRST READING Mich. 7:14-15, 18-20
God will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.
From the prophet Micah
Take your shepherd’s staff and tend your people, Lord,
the sheep that are your inheritance;
among the trees, in the midst of the forest,
they are so lonely.
Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old.
I will show wonders
as in the days you came out of Egypt.
What God is like You, who forgives guilt,
who overlooks sin,
committed by the rest of his inheritance;
who does not let his wrath last forever,
but finds his joy in goodness?
He will have mercy on us again,
He will crush our guilt
under his feet.
He will refer all their sins
to the bottom of the sea.
To Jacob you will show your faithfulness,
to Abraham your kindness,
as you swore to our fathers
in days of old.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 103(102):1-3, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
My soul, praise the Lord
his holy Name from the depths of your being!
Glorify the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits!
It is he who pardons your sins,
who heals your diseases.
It is he who saves you from the grave,
who surrounds you with his favour and compassion.
He does not keep on reproaching,
He is not angry for ever.
He does not treat us as we deserve,
does not repay us our debt.
As wide as the heavens span the earth,
so comprehensive is his compassion.
As far as the distance from east to west,
so far does He drive away our sin.
VERS FOR THE GOSPEL Lk. 15:18
I will go back to my father
and I will say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
GOSPEL Lk. 15:1-3, 11-32
Your brother was dead and has come to life.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
At that time,
tax collectors and sinners of every kind kept coming to Jesus
to listen to him.
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law complained,
‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
He told them this parable:
‘A man had two sons.
’The younger one said to his father,
‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’
“So he divided his property between them.
‘Not long after, the youngest son gathered up all his belongings
and left for a distant land.
‘There he squandered his wealth on a dissolute lifestyle.
’After he had spent everything
a terrible famine struck that country
and he began to suffer for lack of food.
“He found work with a citizen of that country
who sent him out to herd pigs.
‘And though he would have gladly filled his belly
with the husks the pigs ate,
no one gave them to him.
’Then he came to his senses and said,
How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare,
and here am I starving to death.
‘I will go back to my father
and I will say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son
but take me as one of your day labourers.
‘So he set off for his father’s house.
’His father saw him coming in the distance
and was moved with compassion;
he ran up to him
fell upon his neck and kissed him tenderly.
‘But the son said to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
’But the father commanded his servants:
Quickly bring the best robe and put it on him,
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat and celebrate,
for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.
So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, his older son was in the field.
But as he was returning and approaching the house
he heard music and dancing.
‘He called out to one of the servants
and asked what it meant.
‘He replied:
Your brother has come home
and your father has had the fatted calf slaughtered
because he has been returned to him safe and sound.
’But he was angry and refused to go inside.
“When his father came out and urged him to come in
he replied:
All the years I have served you and have never broken your commandments,
yet you never gave me a young goat
so that I could celebrate with my friends.
‘And now that son of yours has come
and has squandered your property on prostitutes.
And you have killed the fatted calf for him to eat.
’Then the father said to him:
My son, you are always with me
and everything I have is yours.
‘But there should be feasting and celebration,
because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life,
was lost and has been found.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On fraternity and social friendship
ROADS TO A NEW
ENCOUNTER
225. In many parts of the world, there is a need for paths of peace
to heal open wounds. There is also a need for peacemakers, men and women
prepared to work with creativity and courage to initiate processes of healing and renewed encounter.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Considerations from Liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official english translation
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