Thursday in the twenty-fourth week

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
Here Timothy is addressed personally. The reading from Scripture here may refer only to the Old Testament, i.e. a regular part of the liturgy to which some kind of homily followed. Furthermore, reference is also made to a ritual in which Timothy was appointed as a minister. This ritual consisted of laying on of hands by a college of elders together with a ritual formula (a prophet’s word).

FIRST READING             I Tim. 4, 12-16

Continue to take constant care of yourselves and of your teaching.
In this way you save yourselves and those who listen to you.

From the holy apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy

Dear one,

No one should scorn your youth.
Be an example to the faithful by word and conduct,
in love, in faith and in innocence.
While awaiting my arrival
thou must devote thyself to reading aloud,
exhortation and instruction.
Do not neglect the gift of grace which is within you
which was given to you by virtue of a prophet’s word
under the laying on of hands of the joint presbyters.
Take all this to heart, engage in it completely,
then your progress will be visible to all.
Take constant care of yourself and your teaching.
In this way you will save yourself and those who listen to you.

INTERLUDIUM             Ps. 111(110), 7-8, 9, 10

Great is all that the Lord performs.
or : Alleluia.

The work of His hands is good and trustworthy,
all that He decrees stands immovable.
It remains in force through the ages and always,
it is thoughtful and just.

He has brought redemption to His people,
made His covenant with them forever;
holy and highly honoured is His Name.

The fear of God is beginning of wisdom,
wise does every one who worships Him;
in eternity one must praise Him.

ALLELUIA                 John 8, 12

Alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord ;
he who follows Me shall possess the light of life.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL             Lk. 7, 36-50

Her sins were forgiven her, though they were many,
for she showed much love.

From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke

One of the Pharisees once asked Jesus to eat with him.
Jesus entered the Pharisee’s house and sat down.
A woman now, who was known in the city as a sinner,
had come to know
that Jesus was a guest in the Pharisee’s house.
She took an alabaster vase with balm
and stood behind Him, at His feet, weeping.
Her tears wet His feet,
which she dried with her head of hair.
She kissed them again and again and anointed them with balm.
When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this,
he said to himself :
“If this were a prophet He would know
who and what kind of woman it is that touches Him ;
after all, it is a sinner.”
Jesus answered him in reply :
“Simon, I have something to say to you”.
To which this one said :
“Say it, Master.”
“A moneylender had two debtors,
one owed him five hundred, the other fifty tenpence.
“Since they could not return these
he cancelled them to both of them.
“Which of them will love him the most now?”
“I suppose
-replied Simon –
the one to whom he has remitted the most.”
Jesus said to him :
“Your judgment is right.”
Thereupon He turned to the woman and said to Simon :
“Ye see that woman there ?
“I entered thy house ;
thou didst not even pour water over my feet,
but my feet were wet with her tears
and she dried them with her hair.
“Thou didst not even give Me a kiss ,
but she kept, since I entered
not ceasing to kiss My feet.
“Thou didst not anoint My head with oil,
but she anointed My feet with balm.
“Therefore I say to you :
her sins are forgiven her, though they were many,
for she has shown much love.
“Little love he shows
to whom little is forgiven.”
Thereupon He spoke to her :
“Your sins are forgiven.”
The fellow adherents wondered :
“Who is this man, who forgives even sins?”
Jesus said to the woman :
Your faith has saved you : go in peace.”

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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
Pope Francis
On caring for the common home

117. The lack of concern to measure the damage to nature and the
impact of decisions on the environment is only a clear
reflection of a disinterest in recognising the message that is
is written in the structures of nature itself. When one’s
own environment, one does not recognise the importance of a poor person, of a human embryo,
of someone with a disability – to name but a few examples,
one will find it difficult to hear the cries of nature. Everything is
interconnected. If man declares himself independent of reality,
declares himself absolute ruler, then the basis
of his existence, because “instead of playing his role as a collaborator of
God in the work of creation, he puts himself in God’s place and thus
ultimately inciting the rebellion of nature”.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am