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.
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Saint Peter Chanel was born on 12/07/1803 and died on 28/04/1841 He was the first martyr in Oceania
Saint Louis Maria . Grignion de Montfort was born on 31 January 1673. He is the founder of the Montfort community and was canonised in 1947.
Recital
Nicodemus is searching, for life, day and night, for explanations for Jesus’ actions. Although a prominent Pharisee, he is sympathetic to Jesus. The questions he puts to Jesus show how difficult it was for the Jews to recognise in Jesus the presence of God, and to be born again of the Spirit in baptism. But it is precisely baptism that gives Jesus the opportunity to become human again and again among men. Do we dwell on this when we interact with other people – even those who are less like us ?
FIRST READING Acts 4:23-31
After a prayer, all were filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed the word of God.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days Peter and John
after their release to their own people,
and reported
on all that the high priests and elders had said to them.
When they heard this
they unanimously raised their voices to God and prayed :
‘Lord, it is You who made heaven and earth ,
the sea and all that is therein,
who by the Holy Spirit
through David, Thy servant, said :
Why do the peoples rant
and the nations plot in vain?
The kings of the earth array themselves
and the princes conspire
against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
‘Indeed, they have conspired in this city
against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed :
both Herod and Pontius Pilate,
together with the Gentiles and the tribes of Israel,
to do all that Thy hand and counsel
had determined beforehand that should be done.
‘But now Lord, give heed to their threats ,
and give your servants that they may in all boldness
May proclaim your word,
and by the stretching forth of thy hand
healings and miraculous signs take place
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
After their prayer, the place where they were gathered trembled.
All were filled with the Holy Spirit
and boldly proclaimed the word of God.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 2, 1-3, 4-6, 7-9
Happy are those who worship the Lord.
Why are the nations murmuring,
do the nations plot resistance ?
The rulers of the earth revolt,
the rulers find themselves
against the Lord and his anointed.
Let us break their fetters,
their chains we cast off!
Who dwells in heaven, He laughs,
the Lord mocks them.
Then He sails out in His wrath
And strikes them with terror before His wrath :
I myself have appointed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.
This is the decision of the Lord :
He spake unto me ; thou art my son,
I have begotten thee this day.
Ask Me, I give thee the nations as an inheritance,
give thee the earth for a possession.
Break their resistance with iron sceptre,
smash them to pieces like pots of clay.
ALLELUIA Lk. 24, 46
Alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and die
and rise from the dead,
and thus enter into his glory.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Jn 3:1-8
If a person is not reborn, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
There was someone among the Pharisees called Nicodemus.
He was among the most distinguished of the Jews.
Once this one came to Him in the night and said :
‘Rabbi, we know that Thou hast come from God as a teacher ,
for no one can do those signs which Thou dost perform
if God is not with him.’
Jesus answered him in reply :
‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee :
if anyone is not born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God.’
Nicodemus said to Him :
‘How can a man be born when he is already old?
Can he sometimes return to his mother’s womb
and be born again?’
Jesus replied :
‘Verily, verily, I say unto you :
if anyone is not born of water and spirit
he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
‘What is born of the flesh is flesh
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
‘Marvel not that I said unto you :
ye must be born again.
‘The wind blows where it will ;
thou hearest its hissing
but know not whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth ;
so it is with every one that is born of the Spirit.’
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
Pope Francis
On brotherhood and social friendship
261. Every war leaves the world worse than it found it.
War is a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful
surrender, a defeat in the face of the powers of evil. Let us
not dwell on theoretical discussions, let us get in touch
with the wounds, let us touch the flesh of those who suffer harm. Let us
look at so many civilians being slaughtered as ‘collateral
harm’. Let us ask the victims. Let us pay attention
to the refugees, to those who have suffered nuclear radiation or chemical
attacks, to the women who have lost their children
lost, to the children maimed or robbed of their childhood.
Let us consider the truth of these victims of violence
consider, let us look at reality with their eyes and let us
listen to their stories with an open heart. This is how we will see the abyss
of evil at the heart of war and it will not
not be bothered that they treat us as naive because we have chosen peace
chosen.
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