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
After the Lord’s death and resurrection, there are few historical events as significant for us descendants of the Gentiles as the Apostles’ Council of Jerusalem. The question of circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses had played no part in the conversion of the gentile Cornelius, and his capture by Peter, nor on the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. Nor had the question yet come into play on the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. Now the question of principle was raised in all its acuteness and also resolved priciparily. Today’s world church is unthinkable without this breakthrough.
FIRST READING Acts 15:1-6
A battle question is put to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days there were some men who had come from Judea
and proclaimed to the brethren the doctrine :
“If ye be not circumcised according to Mosaic custom ,
you cannot be saved.”
When strife arose over this
and Paul and Barnabas
got into a fierce altercation with them,
they instructed Paul and Barnabas
and some other members of the congregation
with this controversial question
to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
After they had been seen off by the congregation
they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria,
where they brought great joy to all the brethren
by telling of the conversion of the Gentiles.
On their arrival at Jerusalem
they were received by the congregation,
the apostles and the elders,
and they told all
what God had accomplished with their cooperation.
But some believers,
from the party of the Pharisees
stood up and declared
that they should be circumcised,
and compel them to keep the Law of Moses.
So the apostles and the elders met
to consider this matter.
INTERLUDIUM Ps 122(121), 1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
How glad was I, when one called me :
we are going to God’s house!
How happy was I, when I was called :
we are going to God’s house!
Now may my foot, Jerusalem,
may enter your gates.
Jerusalem, walled city,
so densely built:
to thee do the tribes march,
the tribes of God’s people.
They go according to Israel’s custom
worship the Name of God.
There stand the seats of justice,
the throne of David’s house.
ALLELUIA John 10.27
Alleluia.
My sheep listen to My voice, says the Lord,
and I know them and they follow Me.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 15, 1-8
He who abides in Me as I abide in him who bears much fruit.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :
“I am the true vine
and My Father is the vine grower.
“Every vine on Me that does not bear fruit
he cuts off;
and every branch that does bear fruit
he purifies, that it may bear more fruit.
“Thou art already pure
thanks to the word that I have spoken to you.
“Abide in Me
then I abide in you.
“Just as the vine cannot bear fruit by itself
but only if it abides on the vine,
neither do ye if ye abide not in Me.
“I am the vine, ye are the tendrils.
“He who abides in Me while I abide in him
who bears much fruit,
for apart from Me ye can do nothing.
“If anyone does not abide in Me
he is cast away like the vine and withers;
one brings them together, throws them into the fire and they burn.
“If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you
then ask what ye want and ye shall have it.
“By this my Father is glorified :
that ye bear rich fruit ;
so shall ye be My disciples.”
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
Pope Francis
On brotherhood and social friendship
284. Sometimes fundamentalist violence is unleashed in some
groups of any religion by the negligence of their
leaders. However, “the commandment of peace is deeply embedded in the religious traditions
that we represent. […] As religious leaders, we are called to be
to be true “people of dialogue”, to not
act as intermediaries, but as authentic mediators.
Intermediaries seek to discount all parties to gain for themselves
advantage. A mediator, on the other hand, is the one who keeps nothing for
himself, but generously sacrifices himself, knowing that the only gain
is that of peace. Each of us is called to be an artisan of
peace by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred
and not nurturing it, by opening avenues for dialogue and
not erecting new walls!”.
To be continued
Every day at 1 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.
Fratelli tutti English translation