The Lateran Basilica is one of Rome’s seven pilgrimage churches and the oldest.
In ecclesiastical rank the most important of the four papal basilicas in 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
INTRODUCTION
Today we celebrate the consecration feast
of the Basilica of St John of Lateran.
She is ’the mother and head
of all churches in Rome and throughout the world’.
This basilica was built around 320
and is the episcopal church of the diocese of Rome.
Yet the focus of this feast is not just on a building made of stone.
The Scripture readings especially focus our attention on the people
who together make up the Body of Christ.
Today, let us celebrate communion
with the worldwide Church and with the Church of Rome,
who goes before us in love.
FIRST READING Ez. 47, 1-2.8-9.12
I saw the water flowing out of the temple.
From the Prophet Ezekiel
In those days
an angel brought me
to the entrance of the temple of the Lord.
And there I saw under the threshold
water welling up and flowing in an easterly direction ;
for the front of the temple faces east.
The water first flowed southwards
along the wall
and then along the south side of the altar.
He led me through the north gate outside
to the eastern outer gate
and to its right the water reappeared.
And the angel said :
“This water flows
through the eastern part of the land
to the Araba,
flows into the Salt Sea
and makes the waters of the sea healthy.
The river brings life
everywhere it flows ;
it teems with animals.
The sea is full of fish,
because the river that flows into it
makes the water healthy.
Everywhere it flows, there is plenty of life.
On both banks of the river
grow all kinds of fruit trees ;
their leaves do not wither
and they are never without fruit.
Every month they bear fruit,
because the water that feeds them
comes from the sanctuary.
The fruits are edible
and the leaves have healing powers.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 46(45), 2-3, 5-6, 8-9
A babbling brook refreshes God’s city,
the holy abode of the Most High.
The Lord is to us a fortress and refuge,
a mighty help in trouble.
So we are not afraid, though the earth tips over,
though the mountains fall into the sea.
A babbling brook refreshes God’s city,
the holy abode of the Most High.
That city stands immovable because God is within it,
God stands by her side as the day begins.
The Lord of the heavenly armies is with us,
a safe fortress is our Jacob’s God.
Draw near and see what the Lord has done,
his wondrous works on earth.
GOSPEL Jn 2:13-22
He spoke of the temple of his body.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
When the Passover feast of the Jews was near
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
In the temple He found the vendors
of cattle, sheep and doves
as well as the moneychangers sitting there.
He made a scourge out of ropes,
drove them all out of the temple,
including the sheep and the cattle;
he swept the changers’ change from the tables
and He overthrew them.
And to the pigeon traders He said :
“Away with all this !
“Do not make My Father’s house a market hall !”
His disciples remembered that it is written :
Zeal for your house will consume me.
The Jews turned to Him with the words :
“What sign can Thou show us
that Thou mayest do this ?”
To which Jesus answered them :
“Break down this temple
and in three days I will raise it up.”
But the Jews remarked :
“Forty-six years has been built on this temple ;
wilt Thou then raise it up in three days ?”
Jesus, however, spoke of the temple of His body.
Therefore, when He had risen from the dead
his disciples remembered that He had said this ,
and they believed in the Scriptures
and in the word that Jesus had spoken.
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
renewable energy that both produce locally and also enable the
selling excess production. This simple
example suggests that while the existing world order proves incapable of
take responsibility, the local body can make a difference.
After all, there can be greater responsibility, a strong sense of community,
a special ability to care for others, a
generous creativity and a deep love of one’s own soil
arise, as well as the vision to what one leaves behind children and grandchildren.
These values have very deep roots in the original populations.
Because justice sometimes fails to function adequately as a result of corruption,
a political decision is required under popular pressure.
Society, through non-governmental
organisations, oblige governments to develop strict rules, procedures and
develop stricter controls. If citizens do not control the – national, regional
and municipal – political power , then no
fight against environmental damage possible. On the other hand, municipal
legislation be more effective if there are agreements between neighbouring
localities to support the same environmental policies.
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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