Friday – Saint Amandus, b.

 

Patron saint of all Flanders
Consecrated as missionary bishop in 628.
He founded various monasteries and churches.

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
Through the mission of Jesus’ disciples, the news about Him spreads quickly. Where people previously came to the Messiah to witness His miracles, they now begin to guess at His identity. To understand who Jesus is at the deepest level, to get to know Him better and better, requires a long and persistent journey. Two people who marry each other do not get to know each other thoroughly in a single day. How much time do we spend with Jesus? Do we know Him?

FIRST READING            Sir. 47:2-11
David sang a song of praise with all his heart,
and he loved his Creator.

From the Book of Ecclesiasticus

Like the fat of the peace offering,
so David was set apart from the sons of Israel.
He played with lions as with goats,
and with bears as with lambs.
Did he not kill a giant in his youth
and remove the reproach from the people,
by lifting the sling stone with his hand
and striking down Goliath’s boastfulness?
For he called upon the Lord, the Most High,
and He gave him the strength in his right hand
to strike down a mighty warrior
and exalt the horn of his people.
So they honoured him by the tens of thousands
and praised him for the blessings of the Lord,
while they brought him a crown of honour.
For he destroyed the enemies who came from all sides
and annihilated the Philistines, his adversaries;
to this day he has broken their horn.
In all he did, he praised the Holy One, the Most High,
with words of glorification.
With all his heart he sang a song of praise
and loved his Creator.
He set singers opposite the altar
to sing beautiful melodies with loud voices.
He added splendour to the feasts
and gave the high days perfect beauty,
while they praised his holy name
and made the sanctuary resound from early morning.
The Lord took away his sins
and exalted his horn forever,
giving him the promise of an everlasting kingdom
and a glorious throne in Israel.

INTERLUDIUM                   Ps . 18(17), 31, 47, 50, 51

Glory be to God, my saviour.

God’s ways are good, his word is trustworthy,
for everyone who flees to him, he is a rock.
Praise be to the Lord, blessed be my rock,
glory be to God, my saviour.

Now I give thanks to You among the nations, Lord,
and I sing my song to Your Name.
For You have given victory to Your king,
You have shown Your favour to Your anointed one,
to David and his descendants forever.

ALLELUIA                       Ps. 145(144), 13 cd

Alleluia.
God is true in all his words
and holy in all his works.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                         Mk . 6, 14-29
Herod said, “John, whom I beheaded,
has risen from the dead.”

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

When King Herod heard about Jesus,
for his name had become known,
he said:
“John the Baptist has risen from the dead,
and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
But others said:
“It is Elijah,”
and still others:
“He is a prophet like the other prophets.”
But when Herod heard all this, he said:
“No, it is John, whom I beheaded,
who has risen.”
For Herod himself had seized John
and had him imprisoned in chains for the sake of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip,
because he had taken her as his wife.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias was therefore angry with him and wanted to kill him,
but she had no opportunity,
because Herod feared John.
He knew that he was a righteous and holy man
and protected him.
Whenever he heard him, he was torn,
but he liked to listen to him.
However, a favourable day came
when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his dignitaries,
his chief officers and the leading men of Galilee.
The daughter of Herodias performed a dance
and pleased Herod and his table companions.
The king said to the girl:
“Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”
And he confirmed it with an oath:
“Whatever you ask me, I will give you,
even if it is half my kingdom.”
She went out and asked her mother,
“What should I ask for?”
Her mother replied,
“The head of John the Baptist.”
She hurried back inside to the king
and told him her wish:
“I want
you to give me, right now,
on a platter,
the head of John the Baptist.”
This grieved the king,
but in order to keep his oath and also because of his table companions,
he did not want to refuse her.
So the king immediately sent a bodyguard
and ordered him to bring John’s head.
The man went and beheaded John in prison.
He brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl;
the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for our Common Home

Pollution, Waste and the Disposable Culture
20. There are forms of pollution that affect people on a daily basis.
Exposure to air pollution causes a wide range of health effects,
particularly among the poor, and causes millions of premature deaths.
For example, people become ill as a result of inhaling large amounts
of smoke caused by fuel used for cooking or heating.
Added to this is the pollution that affects everyone and is caused
by transport, industrial smoke, the discharge of substances
that contribute to the acidification of soil and water,
fertilisers, insecticides, weed killers and toxic pesticides in general.
A technology that, in conjunction with the financial world,
claims to be the only solution to the problems, is in fact unable to
see the mystery of the many connections that exist between things and
therefore sometimes solves one problem while creating others.

_____________________________________________________________________________