St Lutgardis was born in Tongeren in 1182.
She led an intense mystical life. She died in 1246.
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
Difficulties and opposition, injustice and aggression can affect enthusiasm and idealism, even in following Jesus. Effort and zeal then fade. One may even be tempted to answer evil with evil. Paul, however, calls for a change of pace. He himself devotes himself to purity, insight, patience, goodness, a spirit of holiness and unfeigned love, the word of truth. In this, he receives from God the necessary strength.
FIRST READING 2 Cor. 6, 1-10
We try to behave as servants of God.
From the holy apostle Paul’s second letter to the Christians of Corinth
Brothers and sisters,
As God’s co-workers we exhort you :
see to it that you do not receive his grace in vain.
After all, He says :
“In the auspicious time I have heard you,
on the day of salvation I have come to your aid.”
Now there is that auspicious time,
today is the day of salvation.
We do not give anyone any offence
so as not to compromise our ministry.
In all circumstances
we try to conduct ourselves
as servants of God
by steadfastly enduring hardship,
distress and misery :
beatings, imprisonment, riots,
overtiredness, lack of sleep, too little food.
Our recommendation is :
purity, insight, patience, goodness,
a spirit of holiness and love unfeigned,
the word of truth, the power of God himself.
We fight and defend ourselves with spiritual weapons.
Honour and reproach, praise and slander are our portion :
we are the deceivers who speak the truth,
the unknowns that everyone knows ;
we die but remain alive,
we are disciplined but not executed;
we grieve but are always happy ;
we are destitute and make many rich,
ragged, and the world is ours
Interludium Ps. 98(97), 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
His benefits the Lord made known to us.
Sing to the Lord a new song
because He did wonders.
His hand asserted itself powerfully,
the power of His holy arm.
His benefits He made known to us,
the peoples His justice.
Once again His goodness and faithfulness proved
in favour of Israel’s house.
All the earth beheld
what our God did for us.
Glorify the Lord, all nations,
be glad, rejoice and sing.
ALLELUIA John 8, 12
Alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord ;
he that follows Me shall possess the light of life.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 5:38-42
I tell you not to resist injustice.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples :
“Ye have heard that it was said :
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
“But I say to you not to resist injustice ,
but if anyone strikes you on the right cheek
turn to him the other also.
“And if anyone wishes to take you to court
and take away your lower garment,
let him also take the outer garment.
“And if anyone demands you to go one mile with him
go two with him.
“Give to whom you ask
and do not turn away if someone wants to borrow from you.”
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On caring for the common home
The climate as a common good
23. Climate is a common good, of all and for all.
On a global level, it is a complex system that is related to many
essential conditions for human life. There is a very
consistent scientific consensus indicating that we are experiencing an
alarming warming of the climate system. In recent
decades, this warming has been accompanied by a continuous rise
of sea level, and, moreover, it is not difficult to link this
with the increase in extreme weather events, despite the
fact that one cannot attribute a scientifically definable cause to each phenomenon individually
definable cause. Humanity is called upon to
become aware of the need for a change in lifestyle
of production and consumption to combat this warming or at least
the human causes that produce or exacerbate it. While there are
other factors (such as volcanism, changes in the orbit and
axis of the earth, the solar cycle), but numerous scientific studies
indicate that most of the global warming in recent
decades is due to the high concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrogen and others), which are emitted mainly
as a result of human activity. Its concentration in the atmosphere
prevents the heat from the sun’s rays reflected from the Earth,
spreading into space. This is particularly exacerbated
by a development model based on the intensive use of
fossil fuels, which is at the centre of the energy system
of the world. Also, the increase in the practice of different land use,
especially deforestation for agricultural purposes, has had an impact.
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 and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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