Patriarch of Alexandria and church father.
Born about 295 Died 2 May 373
Fighter of Arianism
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wishes 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 Greek philosophers believed that God’s Word guided the world and man, but they found it ridiculous to believe that the Word had also become man in Jesus. Athanasius writes of the tremendous changes brought about from the moment the Word of God came to earth. Idolatry was abandoned, people converted to God and radically changed their lives. Christ’s coming to earth ushered in a new period in world history. He still does, every time He acts renewingly in people’s lives. When do we feel renewed by Jesus’ presence in our lives ?
FIRST READING Acts 5:34-42
They went away rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer reproach for the sake of the name of Jesus.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days there was a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin,
Gamaliel, a scholar of the law
who was held in esteem by all the people.
He had the apostles brought out for a moment.
Thereupon he said :
‘Men of Israel ,
consider what you are going to do with these men.
‘For before our time Teudas was acting,
who claimed to be someone of consequence
and with whom a group of about four hundred men joined.
‘He was killed
and all who trusted him were dispersed.
‘After him, in the days of the census
Judas the Galilean appeared
and dragged many people with him,
and all who trusted in him were scattered.
‘As for our case, I say to you :
do not interfere with these people
but let them have their way.
‘Does this scheme or this work proceed from men ,
it will come to nothing.
‘If, however, it proceeds from God ,
thou shalt not be able to break them up ;
otherwise it might appear that ye are opposed to God.’
They allowed themselves to be persuaded by him.
They called the apostles,
had them scourged,
forbade them to speak in the name of Jesus
and set them free.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin
delighted that they had been found worthy
to suffer defamation for the sake of the name of Jesus.
They continued
teaching daily in the temple and in the houses
and proclaiming the Good News
that Jesus is the Messiah.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 27(26), 1, 4, 13-14
One thing only I ask of the Lord,
more will I not wish :
That I may dwell in God’s house as long as I live.
The Lord is my light and my guide,
whom should I fear:
the Lord is the brace of my life,
Whom should I fear?
One thing only I ask of the Lord,
more will I not wish:
That I may live in God’s house as long as I live.
That I may experience the loveliness of the Lord,
to see his temple again with my own eyes.
I count on being able to experience
to experience the Lord’s benefits.
Look forward to the Lord and stand firm bravely,
be courageous in heart and trust in the Lord.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia.
Christ rose from the grave
and became a Light to all
whom He redeemed in His blood.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 6:1-15
He had the loaves and fishes distributed among the people
who were sitting there, as many as they wanted.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
In those days Jesus went across
of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias.
A great crowd followed Him
because they saw the signs He was doing to the sick.
Jesus went up the mountain
and sat down there with his disciples.
It was shortly before Easter, the feast of the Jews.
When Jesus lifted up his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming towards Him
He asked Philip :
‘How should we buy bread for these people to eat?’
– This He said to test Him,
for He Himself knew what He was going to do.-
Philip answered Him :
‘Will every one get even a small piece
then for two hundred denarii of bread is still too little.’
One of His disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter
remarked :
‘There is a boy here with five barley loaves and two fish ,
but what does that mean for such a number ?’
Jesus, however, said :
‘Let the people sit down.’
For there was much grass there.
They then sat down ;
the number of men was about five thousand.
Then Jesus took the loaves
and after speaking the prayer of thanksgiving
He had them distributed among the people sitting there,
as well as the fish, as many as they wanted.
When they were satiated, He said to His disciples :
‘Now collect the remaining chunks
so that nothing is lost.’
They collected them
and filled twelve baskets of the five barley loaves with lumps,
which had been left by the people after eating.
When the people saw the sign He had done they said :
‘This is surely the prophet who must come into the world.’
Since Jesus understood
that they wanted to take possession of Him
to take Him away and proclaim Him king,
He withdrew again into the mountains,
all alone.
________________________________________________________
Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
Pope Franciscus
On brotherhood and social friendship
265. From the first centuries of the Church, some people showed themselves to be clearly
an opponent of capital punishment. Lactantius, for example, argued
that ‘no distinction should be made: killing a human being will always
be a crime’. Pope Nicholas I urged: ‘Commit yourself not
only each of the innocent, but also all the guilty from the death penalty
free’. On the occasion of the trial of some murderers who had
had killed priests, St Augustine asked the judge
not to deprive the murderers of their lives, and he justified it as
as follows: ‘Not that by this we wish to prevent criminal individuals from being
the freedom to commit crimes, but we desire that
it is sufficient for this purpose that by leaving them alive and without
mutilating in any part of their bodies their by applying repressive laws
apply their unhealthy restlessness is deprived to be brought back to
be restored to a healthy and peaceful life, or that they, withdrawn from their evil
works, are engaged in some useful work. While this too is a
condemnation, but who would not understand that it is more of a benefaction than
a punishment, since the brutality of cruelty has no free space
is left, nor the medicine of repentance taken away?
[…] However, be indignant at iniquity in such a way
that you do not forget humanity; do not let the lust of vengeance have the
free rein against the atrocities of sinners, but direct your will to the
heal its wounds’.
To be continued
Every day at 7 am
The Bible text in this edition 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