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
Jonah looks like the eldest son from Luke’s parable about the prodigal son. He is angry because God is good and forgives. He thought he was called to announce God’s judgement and punishment, now suddenly God becomes merciful. The unknown writer of the book of Jonah teaches us a lesson today too. How do we stand against God’s mercy? What about our care, our love for our neighbour, our ability not to hurt anyone – but also: what about our resistance to forgiveness?
FIRST READING Jon. 4, 1-11
Thou art concerned with that tree, Jonah,
and I would not then be concerned with Nineveh ?
From the Prophet Jonah
Jonah found the Lord’s decision unholy
and he became enraged.
He prayed to the Lord :
“Ah Lord, had I not thought it ,
while I was still in my country!
“Therefore I also fled at once to Tarsis.
“After all, I knew ,
that Thou art a compassionate and merciful God,
longsuffering and rich in love,
always inclined to regret imputed mischief.
“Thou canst now take away my breath of life from me, Lord :
Death is dearer to me than life.”
But the Lord asked :
“Is there any reason to be so miffed?”
Jonah went out of the city
and coming to the east side of the city
he sat down there.
He made himself a canopy
and sat under it in the shade looking out,
what would happen to the city.
Now the Lord God caused a castor tree to shoot up
up above Jonah, to shade his head
and thus cure him of his resentment.
Jonah was delighted with that tree.
But then God so disposed it ,
that early the next day a worm came,
which attacked the tree and made it wither.
Moreover, as soon as the sun had risen, God sent,
a scorching east wind,
and the sun stung so violently on Jonah’s head,
that he sank down exhausted.
He longed to die and said :
“Death is dearer to me than life.”
But God asked Jonah :
“Is there any reason to be so enraged
about that castor tree?”
He replied :
“Yes, I have reason to be thoroughly enraged !”
Thereupon the Lord spoke :
“Thou art concerned about that castor tree ,
for which thou hast done nothing
and which thou hast not raised,
that tree which between one night and another
has sprung up and disappeared ?
“And I would not then be concerned with Nineveh ,
the great city of Nineveh, where besides the many animals,
so many people dwell
– more than twelve ten thousand –
people who could not tell the difference
between their right hand and their left hand ?”
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 86(85), 3-4, 5-6, 9-10
Thou, Lord my God, art merciful and good,
patient, mild and trustworthy.
Surely my God be Thou, have mercy on me,
continually I cry out to Thee.
Delight the heart of Your servant, Lord,
i turn to Thee with confidence.
For Thou art good and merciful, Lord,
merciful to every one who calls upon Thee.
Listen then, Lord, to my prayer,
heed my pleading voice.
One day the nations, your creatures, will come again
to worship Thee, to praise Thy name.
For great art Thou, Lord, and great is Thy creation,
Thou art the only God.
ALLELUIA Jak. 1, 21
Alleluia.
Accept with meekness the word of God
which was planted in you
and has the power
to save your souls.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 11, 1-4
Lord, teach us to pray.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke
On one occasion Jesus was praying somewhere.
When He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him :
“Lord ,
teach us to pray,
as John also taught his disciples.”
He spoke to them :
“When you pray, say :
Father, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come.
“Give us every day our daily bread ,
and forgive us our sins,
for we too forgive those who owe us.
“And lead us not into temptation.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On caring for the common home
Ecology of everyday life
147. To speak of authentic development, it will
must happen that an integral improvement in the quality of
human life is achieved, and this involves analysing the space in
which individuals’ existence takes place. The environment in which
we live affects the way we see, feel and act on life. At the same time,
in our room, in our home, in our workplace
and in our neighbourhood, we use the environment to express our identity.
We make an effort to adapt to the environment and
when this environment is disordered, chaotic and saturated with visible and
audible pollution, this excess of stimuli challenges us to develop an
integrated and happy identity.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this issue 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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