Saturday – Saint John Bosco, priest

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
After the parables, Mark offers us a series of miracle stories. They do not take place in front of a large crowd, but only in front of the disciples. They must learn, grow in faith and trust.
We too must answer the question Jesus asks them: ‘What are you afraid of?’ What am I afraid of? In the difficult moments of my faith, when Jesus asks me to continue to choose Him, I want to pray: ‘Lord, if You will it, step into my boat. Let us continue together.’ He who died on the cross for me will not reject that prayer.

FIRST READING                        2 Sam. 12:1-7a, 10-17
I have sinned against the Lord.

From the second book of Samuel

In those days, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David.
He entered the king’s presence and said to him:
“Two men, one rich and one poor,
lived in the same city.
The rich man had many sheep and cattle,
but the poor man had only one little lamb, which he had bought.
He could have kept it alive,
and it had grown up with him, among his children;
the animal ate from his plate, drank from his cup,
and slept on his lap;
it was like his daughter.
Once, the rich man had a visitor.
He could not bring himself
to take a sheep or ox from his own flock
and prepare it for the traveller
who had come to him.
“He took the poor man’s lamb
and prepared it for his guest.”

David was deeply indignant at the man
and said to Nathan:
“As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this
deserves to die.
“And he must repay fourfold for the lamb,
because he did not shrink from
doing such a terrible thing.”
Then Nathan said to David:
“You are that man!
“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:
The sword will never depart from your house,
because you have despised me
and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
“Thus says the Lord:
Behold, I will bring evil upon you
from your own house;
I will take your wives from you
and give them to your neighbour,
and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
“You have acted in secret,
but I will act in the sight of all Israel
and in broad daylight.”

Then David said to Nathan,
“I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied,
“Then the Lord has forgiven you this sin:
you shall not die.
“But because by this deed you have given the Lord’s enemies cause for blasphemy,
the child born to you shall surely die.”

Then Nathan went home,
and the Lord struck the child
that Uriah’s wife had given to David
with a severe illness.
And David prayed to God for the boy;
he fasted severely, and when he withdrew for the night,
he lay down on the ground to sleep.
The elders of the court urged him
not to sleep on the ground any longer,
but he would not listen;
he also refused to eat with them.

INTERLUDIUM                           Ps . 51(50), 12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Create in me a pure heart, my God.

Create in me a pure heart, my God,
give me back a determined spirit.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

Keep me far from bloodshed, O God my saviour,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Lord, loosen my lips,
that my mouth may sing Your praise.

ALLELUIA                 Ps. 119 (118), 88

Alleluia.
Be merciful to me and let me live, Lord,
then I will remain faithful to what You command.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                         Mk. 4, 35-41
Who is He, that even the wind and water obey Him?

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

One day, as evening was approaching,
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross over.”
They sent the crowd away
and took Him with them as He sat there in the boat;
other boats accompanied Him.
A violent storm arose
and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was already filling up.
Meanwhile, Jesus was lying asleep on the cushion at the stern.
They woke Him and said to Him:
“Master, do You not care that we are perishing?”
He got up,
addressed the wind with a commanding word,
and spoke to the water:
“Be still!”
The wind died down and there was complete silence.
He said to them:
“Why are you so afraid?
“How is it possible that you still have no faith?”
They were seized with great fear and asked each other:
“Who is this, that even the wind and water obey Him?”

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

14. I urgently call for a new dialogue about how we shape the future of the planet. We need a conversation that unites us all, because the environmental challenge we are experiencing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.
The global ecological movement has already come a long and rich way, and numerous groups of citizens have emerged that have promoted awareness. Unfortunately, many efforts to address the environmental crisis have been limited to the political sphere, and the human dimension has been largely overlooked.
The global ecological movement has already come a long and rich way, and numerous groups of citizens have emerged that have promoted awareness. Unfortunately, many efforts to address the environmental crisis have been limited to the political sphere, and the human dimension has been largely overlooked. The global ecological movement has already come a long and rich way, and numerous groups of citizens have emerged that have promoted awareness. Unfortunately, many efforts to find concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have often been frustrated, not only by the refusal of the powerful, but also by the lack of interest of others.
Behaviour that also stands in the way of a solution among believers ranges from denial of the problem to indifference, complacent resignation or blind trust.
The world’s most powerful countries have not been able to find a solution to the environmental crisis. Behaviour that also stands in the way of a solution among believers ranges from denial of the problem to indifference, complacent resignation or blind faith in technical solutions. We need a new universal solidarity.
As the bishops of South Africa have said, “the talents and commitment of all are needed to repair the damage done by man to God’s creation”.
As the bishops of South Africa have said, “the talents and commitment of all are needed to repair the damage done by man to God’s creation”. We can all work together as God’s instruments for the care of creation, each with our own culture and experience, our own initiatives and abilities.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am.