Invitation
May I ask for your attention for
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 truth will set you free.’ This is one of those lasting, pithy phrases from the Gospel of John, but how easily it is misunderstood. It is not about philosophy, about the human search for philosophical or scientific truth. Truth here is the divine truth that comes to us in Christ and saves us. Freedom is therefore freedom from the slavery of sin; freedom from the darkness of an existence estranged from God. In this sense, we come very close to the Pauline ‘For freedom Christ set us free’ (Gal. 5:1), the freedom of the children of God.
FIRST READING: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
The Lord sent his angel to rescue his servants.
From the Prophet Daniel
In those days, King Nebuchadnezzar asked
the men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego:
“Is it true that you do not worship my god
and do not worship the golden image that I have set up?
‘Well, are you prepared to fall down and worship the image that I have made
when you hear the sounds of the horn, the flute, the zither, the lute, the harp,
the bagpipes, and all kinds of other musical instruments?
’If you refuse, you will be thrown
thrown into the blazing fire of an oven
and what god will then be able to free you from my power?
They answered the king:
‘Nebuchadnezzar, we do not consider it necessary
to answer your question.
’If there is a god who can do that,
it is our God whom we worship:
He is able to free us from the blazing fire of an oven
and He will rescue us from your grasp, king.
‘But the king may be assured that
even if God does not save us, we do not worship your god
and do not adore the golden statue you have erected.’
Then Nebuchadnezzar became furious with them
and his face grew stern ;
he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual,
and he commanded the strongest men in his army
to bind these men
and throw them into the blazing furnace.
But King Nebuchadnezzar was suddenly startled,
and he rose hurriedly and said to his counsellors :
‘Did we not throw three men bound into the fire?‘
They answered, “Certainly, O king!”
He replied,
’But I see four men, unbound
and unhurt, walking in the fire;
and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying
‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
He sent his angel to rescue his servants
who trusted in him
and defied the king’s command.
They paid with their bodies
because they refused to honour
or worship than their own God.’
INTERLUDIUM Dan. 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
Praise is yours through all ages.
Praise be to You, Lord, God of our fathers,
Praise is yours through all ages.
Praise be to Your holy and glorious Name,
You are to be praised in all ages.
Praised are you in the house of your glory,
You are to be praised in all ages.
Praised are you on the throne of your kingdom,
You are to be praised in all ages.
Praised are you, who sees into the depths,
enthroned on cherubim, in all ages.
Praised are you in the dome of heaven,
you are worthy of praise in all ages.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Mt. 4:4b
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on everything that comes from the mouth of God.
GOSPEL Jn. 8:31-42
If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him:
‘If you remain faithful to my word
you are truly my disciples.
’Then you will know the truth
and the truth will set you free.”
Some of them said:
‘We are Abraham’s descendants
and have never been anyone’s slaves.
‘How can you say,
’You will be set free‘?’
Jesus replied,
‘Very truly I tell you,
’Everyone who commits sin
is a slave to sin.
‘The slave will not be left in charge of the household forever.
’The one who is left in charge
is the Son.
‘If the Son sets you free
you will be free indeed.
’I know that you are Abraham’s descendants
yet you seek to kill me
because my word has no place in you.
“I speak of what I have seen with my Father
but you do what you have heard from your father.’
They answered him:
‘Our father is Abraham!’
Then Jesus said to them:
‘If you are Abraham’s children
do the works of Abraham.
’But now you seek to kill me, a man
who has told you the truth
which I heard from God.
“Abraham did not do such things.
‘You do the deeds of your father.‘
They said to him,
’We were not born from sexual immorality;
we have one Father,
God himself.‘
Jesus said to them,
’If God were your Father,
you would love me,
for I came from God
and I am here.
“No, you do not understand
what I am saying.
I did not come on my own
, but He sent me.”
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On fraternity and social friendship
243. Certainly, ’it is not easy to overcome the bitter legacy
of injustice, enmity and mistrust left behind
by conflict. This can only be achieved through the
overcoming evil with good (cf. Rom. 12:21) and by cherishing the virtues
that promote reconciliation, solidarity and peace.‘ In this way
’goodness, when allowed to grow within us, gives us peace of mind
and profound joy, even in the midst of difficulties and misunderstandings.
Even in the face of insults suffered, goodness is not weakness,
but true strength, capable of renouncing revenge. It is necessary
to recognise in your own life that ‘that harsh judgement I bear in my
heart against my brother or my sisters, that unhealed wound, that
unforgiven evil, that rancour that will only harm me, is a
piece of war that I carry within me, a source of infection in my heart
that must be extinguished, if it is not to flare up into a fire.
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
Fratelli tutti Official English translation
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