Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening words

When we gather to celebrate the Eucharist,
we do not do so on our own initiative.
It is the Lord who calls us and brings us together.
He speaks life-giving words to us
and shows us the way to happiness.
However, this path is not obvious:
it is a path of simplicity and humility.
Jesus himself walked this path
and is now also our guide and leader on it.
Let us gratefully accept his invitation
to follow him with all our hearts.

FIRST READING       Zeph . 2,3; 3,12-13

I will leave with you only a humble and modest people.

From the prophet Zephaniah

Seek the Lord,
all you humble of the land,
who obey his commands;
seek righteousness,
seek humility!
Then you may find a place of refuge
on the day of the Lord’s wrath.

Then I will leave among you a humble and lowly people,
who take refuge in the name of the Lord:
the remnant of Israel.
They will no longer do wrong
or speak falsehood;
there will be no deceitful tongue in their mouths.
They will graze and lie down,
without anyone to frighten them.

Responsorial Psalm                   Ps. 146(145), 7, 8-9a, 9bc-10

Refrain
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord always keeps his word,
he gives justice to the oppressed.
The Lord gives bread to the hungry,
he sets prisoners free.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
he lifts up those who are broken.
The Lord loves the righteous,
the Lord protects the displaced.

The Lord gives support to orphans and widows,
but He lets sinners go astray.
The Lord is king for ever,
your God, Zion, reigns over all generations.

SECOND READING                     1 Cor. 1:26-31

God chose what was weak in the world.

From the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christiansof Corinth

Brothers and sisters,

Remember your own calling.
By human standards, there were not many who were learned,
not many who were powerful,
not many who were of noble birth.

No, God chose what is foolish in the world
to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world
to shame the strong;
God chose what is low and despised in the world,
and what is nothing,
to bring to nothing what is something,
so that no human being might boast before God.

Thanks to him, you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God,
our righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written,
“If anyone wants to boast, let him boast in the Lord.”

Gospel verse         Mt . 5,12a

Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward in heaven is great.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                    Mt. 5,1-12a

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

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

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
He spoke and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
“Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward is great in heaven.”

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

15. I hope that this encyclical, which joins the social teaching of the Church,
will help us to recognise the greatness, urgency and beauty
of the challenge before us.
First, I will give an overview of the various aspects of the current ecological crisis in order to draw on the best fruits of the scientific research available today.
Let it touch us deeply and provide a concrete basis for the ethical and spiritual
journey that follows.
Based on this overview, I will revisit some arguments
that stem from the Judeo-Christian tradition in order to give our commitment to the environment greater coherence. I will then attempt to
get to the roots of the current situation in order to understand not only the symptoms, but also to understand its root causes. In this way, we will be able to propose an ecology that, in its various dimensions,
complements the specific place that humans occupy in this world and their relationships with the surrounding reality. In light of this reflection, I would like to go a step further in proposing some broad lines for dialogue and action that involve both each of us and international politics. Finally, since I am convinced
that every change needs motivation and an educational path, I will
propose some guidelines for human growth inspired by the wealth of
Christian spiritual experience.

To be continued
Every day at 1 am