Friday, first week

 

Invitation

May I draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation is intended to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day

Consideration
Samuel oversaw the transition from the chaos of the Judges to the monarchy. He first appointed Saul, then David. This transition to the monarchy should not be idealised. There was a clear counter-current against the monarchy. Already in the Book of Judges we have the fable of the trees that sought a king, until only the thorn bush was willing. Here we have an equally scathing warning against the monarchy. No one is king over Israel but God alone. Yet the trend towards monarchy will prevail. (It is presented here as a whim of the people: we want a king like other nations. In fact, the threat and danger from the Philistines will also have played a part).

FIRST READING            I  Sam. 8:4-7, 10-22a

You will cry out to the Lord for help
over the king you have chosen for yourselves,
but the Lord will not answer.

From the first book of Samuel

In those days, the elders of Israel gathered together,
went to Samuel in Ramah, and said to him:
“You have grown old,
and your sons do not follow your example.
Therefore, appoint a king to judge us,
a king like all the other nations have.”
But Samuel thought it was inappropriate that they proposed:
“Give us a king to judge us.”
Therefore, he prayed to the Lord.
But the Lord said to Samuel:
“Listen to the people, whatever they ask you,
for they are not rejecting you, but Me;
they no longer want Me as their king.”

Then Samuel told the people
who had asked him for a king
what the Lord had said.
He said:
“The king who rules over you
will impose the following rights:
“He will demand your sons for his chariots,
for his horses and to escort his chariots,
to appoint them
as leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties,
to plough his fields,
to bring in his harvest,
to make weapons for war,
and to equip his chariots.
He will take your daughters to prepare ointments,
to cook and to bake.
He will take your best fields, vineyards and olive groves
and give them to his servants.
He will take a tenth of your crops and the produce of your vineyards
and give it to his courtiers and servants.
He will make your male and female slaves, your strongest young men and your donkeys
work for him.
He will take a tenth of your sheep and goats.
And you will become his slaves.
“When that time comes,
you will cry out to the Lord about the king
you yourselves have chosen,
but the Lord will not answer.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel and said,
“We must have a king!
Then we will be like all the other nations.
“Our king will be our judge
and go out before us to fight our wars.”
Samuel heard the desires of the people
and conveyed them to the Lord.
The Lord said to Samuel:
“Grant their request
and appoint a king over them.”

INTERLUDIUM

I will sing of your favours, Lord,
and proclaim your faithfulness to every generation.

Happy are the people who know what joy is,
because they live, Lord, in the light of your face.
Day by day they trust in your Name,
finding their strength in your righteousness.

For you are our glory and our strength,
your favour makes us a great and powerful people.
For from the Lord we received our shield,
the Holy One of Israel gave us a king.

ALLELUIA             Ps. 27(26), 11

Alleluia.
Show me your way, Lord, in adversity,
lead me along smooth paths.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                 Mk. 2, 1-12

The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.

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

When Jesus had returned to Capernaum
and it was known that He was at home,
such a crowd gathered
that there was no room even outside the door
while He was teaching them.
They brought to Him a paralytic
carried by four men.
Because they could not get him close to Jesus due to the crowd,
they uncovered the roof above the place where Jesus was,
made an opening in it,
and lowered the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“My son, your sins are forgiven.”
Some scribes were sitting there.
They said to themselves:
“What is this man saying?
“He is blaspheming!
“Who else but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew what they were thinking
and said to them:
“Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralysed man, ‘
Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘
Get up, take your bed and walk’?
‘Now, so that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’
He said to the paralysed man,
‘I say to you,
get up, take your bed and go home.”
The man got up, took his bed
and immediately went outside in front of everyone.
Everyone was amazed,
and they glorified God and said:
“We have never seen anything like this.”

______________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

Prayer for our earth
Almighty God,
who are present in the vast universe
and in the smallest of your creatures,
you who with your tenderness
envelop all that exists,
pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may care
for life and preserve its beauty.
Fill us with peace,
so that we may live as brothers and sisters,
without harming anyone.
God of the poor,
help us to save the abandoned and forgotten people of this world,
who are so precious in your eyes.
Make our lives healthy again,
so that we may protect the world
and not plunder it,
so that we may sow beauty
and not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of all who seek only advantage
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the value of all things,
to look with wonder,
and to recognise that we are deeply connected
with all creatures
on our journey towards your infinite light.
Thank you for being with us every day.
Please encourage us in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

To be continued
Every day at 1 am.