Saturday before revelation – Holy Name of Jesus

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
The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is reminiscent of many Old Testament images. There is the scapegoat of the Great Day of Atonement, sent into the desert laden with all the sins of the people. There is the suffering servant, led like a lamb to the slaughter. There is the paschal lamb, which John says is slaughtered at the moment Jesus hangs on the cross. He became human to take on the weight of evil and the burdens of suffering. What burden of our existence do we want to lay before Him ? What do we want to shed on the cross ?

FIRST READING                  1 Jn 2:29-3:6
He who abides in the Lord does not sin.

From the first letter of the holy apostle John

Friends,

Since ye know that Jesus is wholly without sin,
you must understand
that every one who does good is also a child of God.
How great is the love shown to us by the Father!
We are called children of God
and we are.
The world does not understand us
and it does not know us
because it has not recognised Him.
Friends,
already now we are children of God
and what we shall be has not yet been revealed ;
but we know
that when it is revealed
we will be like Him
because we shall see Him as He is.
Those who expect such salvation from God ,
makes himself pure
as Christ is pure.
He who commits sin commits evil
for sin is wickedness.
And you know
that Christ appeared to take away sins
and there is no sin in Him.
He who abides in Him
sins not ;
the sinner has not seen Him and does not know Him.

INTERLUDIUM              Ps. 98(97), 1, 3cd-4, 5-6

All the earth beheld
what our God did for us.

Sing to the Lord a new song
because He did wonders.
His hand asserted itself powerfully,
the power of His holy arm.

All da earth beheld
what our God did for us.
Glorify the Lord, all nations,
be glad, rejoice and sing.

Sing to the Lord by the zither,
with zither and psalters.
Let trumpet and trumpet sound
and dance before the Lord, your king.

ALLELUIA              Heb. 1, 1-2

Alleluia.
After God had once spoken many times and in many ways
had spoken to our fathers through the prophets,
he has now, at the end of time,
spoken to us through the Son.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL              Jn 1:29-34

From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John

At that time John saw Jesus coming towards him and said :
“Behold, the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
“This one it is of whom I said :
Behind me comes a man
who is before me ,
for He was before me.
“Neither did I know Him,
but that He might be revealed to Israel,
therefore I came to be baptised with water.”
Further, John testified :
“I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove
and He remained upon Him.
“Neither did I know Him
but who had sent me to baptise with water,
He had spoken to me :
On whom ye shall see the Spirit descending and abiding,
It is He who baptises with the Holy Spirit.
“I myself have seen it and I have testified :
This is the Son of God.”

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCISCUS

On caring for the common home

234. Saint John of the Cross taught that all the good that can be experienced in
things and the world , “is located in an eminent way infinitely in God, or rather,
He is each of these greatnesses that
are proclaimed”. Not because the bounded things of the world
are truly divine, but because the mystic experiences the intimate bond
that exists between God and all beings, and feels, “all things – that is
God. When he admires the magnitude of a mountain, he cannot separate it from
God and relates the inner admiration he experiences to the
Lord: “The mountains have peaks, they are high, imposing, beautiful, lovely,
flowery and fragrant. The Beloved is like those mountains to me. The remote
valleys are quiet, charming, fresh, shady, rich in fresh water. Because of the
variety of their trees and the pleasant songs of the birds
the senses experience refreshment and delight, and in their desolation
and silence they offer refreshment and tranquillity: these valleys are for me my
Beloved”.

To be continued
Every day at 1 am