Saint Laurentius of Brindisi was born in 225 in Huesca (Spain)
Patron saint of Rome
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
In two readings, we are given the story of the passage through the Red Sea. On the one hand, that passage is marked by oriental exaggeration and fantastically narrated. On the other hand, we find traces of accuracy, e.g. in the description of the chariots. For the first time in the story, the theme of ‘grumbling’ appears, which is repeated again and again. It clearly reflects the tension between the risk of the desert and the journey with God, and the choice of relative security where one does not have to risk anything. It is the path of every believer who must constantly bear the risk of faith.
FIRST READING Ex. 14, 5-18
The Egyptians will know that I am God,
when I glorify Me at Pharaoh’s expense.
From the Book of Exodus
When it was reported to the king of Egypt
that the people had disappeared,
pharaoh and his courtiers changed their minds
and they exclaimed :
“How could we let the Israelites
yet leave our service?”
So he had his chariots harnessed
and took his men with him :
Six hundred of the best chariots and all the vehicles of Egypt,
all occupied with three men.
For the Lord had made Pharaoh, the king of Egypt,
made obstinate again,
so that he went in pursuit of the Israelites
who, under the mighty protection of the Lord
had left.
With all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots,
with his charioteers and his army,
the Egyptians set off in pursuit.
They caught up with the Israelites while they were encamped by the sea,
at Pi-Hachirot, in front of Baal-Sefon.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites suddenly saw
that the Egyptians had come after them.
Severe fear took hold of them
and they cried loudly to the Lord.
But to Moses they said :
“Were there no tombs in Egypt
that you brought us to the desert to die?
“Yet how did you take it into your head
to carry us away from Egypt ?
“Didn’t we already warn you in Egypt :
Don’t interfere with us,
let us remain in the service of the Egyptians ?
“It is better to serve them than to die in the desert.”
Moses replied to the people :
“Do not fear and persevere :
Then you will see how the Lord will save you today.
“For today thou seest the Egyptians;
after this ye shall see them no more, never again !
“The Lord will fight for thee;
ye yourselves need not lift a finger.”
Then the Lord spoke to Moses :
“What callest thou to Me.
“Command the Israelites to go forth.
“Thou thyself must lift up thy hand,
stretch out thy staff over the sea and split it in two.
“Then the Israelites can
move across the dry ground through the sea.
I am going to make the Egyptians obstinate,
so that they go after them.
“And then I will glorify Me at the expense of Pharaoh
and all his armies, his chariots and his charioteers.
“The Egyptians will know that I am God the Lord ,
when I glorify Me at the expense of Pharaoh,
his chariots and his charioteers.”
INTERLUDIUM Ex. 15, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
To the Lord I sing, the victor.
The Lord I sing, the conqueror,
horses and horsemen He drove into the sea.
The Lord is my strength, Him I thank my salvation,
the Lord is my God, to Him is my song.
The God of my fathers, Him I will praise,
a mighty warrior, His name is the Lord.
Pharaoh’s chariots, his armies drowned,
the Reed Sea swallowed up the choice of his people.
The waves swept over them,
they plunged like a stone into the deep.
Your hand, Lord, which is mightier than men,
your hand has brought down the enemy.
ALLELUIA Ps. 119(118), 34
Alleluia.
Give me understanding to observe your law, Lord,
to follow it with all my heart.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 12:38-42
The queen of the South
will rise at judgement along with this generation.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
On a certain day some scribes and Pharisees
turned to Jesus with the words :
“Master, we want to see a sign from You.”
But He answered them :
“An evil and adulterous generation desires a sign ,
but no other sign will be given to them
than that of the prophet Jonah.
“As indeed Jonah three days and three nights
stayed in the belly of the sea monster ,
so shall the Son of Man abide three days and three nights
dwell in the womb of the earth.
“The people of Nineveh will rise at the judgment
together with this generation
and condemn it,
for they have repented at the preaching of Jonah :
Well, here is more than Jonah.
“The queen of the South will rise at the judgment
together with this generation
and condemn it,
for she came from the ends of the earth
to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.”
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On caring for the common home
58. In some countries there are positive examples of results in
improving the environment, such as the rehabilitation of some rivers that have
have been polluted for so many decades, the restoration of original
forests or the beautification of landscapes with restorative
to the environment or construction projects of great aesthetic value,
advances in producing non-polluting energy, in improving
of public transport. These actions do not solve the world’s problems,
but they do confirm that humans are still capable of positive intervention.
Because it was created to love, flourish inevitably in the midst of its
limitations, acts of generosity, solidarity and care.
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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