Saturday after Ash Wednesday

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
Conversion and joy belong together. We must convert, and celebrate this change joyfully. Yes, we are small, broken people, and yes, we sometimes resist when God takes us down paths we do not want to go. But we can taste joy because Jesus forgives sin: because He walks patiently beside us and brings us back to the Father when our paths come to a dead end. To free us from powerlessness and smallness, from sin and darkness, He will give His life for us. That is why Christians associate joy with a cross. Is there a greater paradox imaginable?

FIRST READING            Isa. 58, 9b-14

When you no longer pursue your own advantage, you will find joy in the Lord.

From the Prophet Isaiah

Thus says the Lord God:
“When you remove oppression from your midst,
the threatening finger and malicious speech,
when you open your heart to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted,
then your light will shine in the darkness,
and your night will become like noon.
“Then the Lord will guide you continually;
He will satisfy you in parched places,
and give strength to your bones.
“You will be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
“Then you will rebuild the ancient ruins,
you will raise up the foundations of many generations.
You will be called ’the poet of Bress’,
’the one who brings life back to the streets’.
“When you no longer travel
on the Sabbath
and no longer pursue your interests
on my holy mountain,
when you call the Sabbath your joy
and honour the Lord’s holy day,
when you honour that day
by not pursuing your business
and not seeking your advantage
and not trading,
then you will find joy in the Lord;
then I will carry you over all the mountains of the earth
and let you enjoy
the inheritance of Jacob, your father.”
Truly, through the mouth of the Lord
this word has been spoken!

INTERLUDIUM                 Ps. 86(85), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may follow it faithfully.

Hear my prayer, Lord, and answer me,
for I am unhappy and poor.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you;
take care of your servant, for he relies on you.

You are my God, have mercy on me,
I call upon You continually.
Rejoice the heart of Your servant, Lord,
I turn to You with confidence.

For You are good and gracious, Lord,
merciful to all who call upon You.
Hear then, Lord, my prayer,
heed my pleading voice.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL               Ezekiel 18, 31

Cast away from you all the transgressions you have committed, says the Lord,
and renew your heart and your spirit.

GOSPEL                     Luke 5, 27-32

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, that they may repent.

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

At that time,
when Jesus came to the toll booth, he looked
at a tax collector sitting there,
a certain Levi.
He said to him,
“Follow me.”
The man got up, left everything behind and followed him.
Now Levi offered him a great feast in his house,
where, among others, numerous tax collectors sat down with them.
The Pharisees,
especially the scribes among them,
complained to his disciples about this:
“Why,” they said,
“do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
But Jesus answered and said,
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
I have not come to call the righteous,
but sinners,
so that they may repent.”

________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

35. When we analyse the environmental impact of certain economic initiatives, we tend to consider the effects on soil, water and air, but we do not always include a precise study of the impact on biodiversity, as if the loss of a few species or groups of animals or plants were of little importance.
Streets, new crops, fences, water basins and other structures take possession of habitats and sometimes fragment them to such an extent that animal populations are affected.
The loss of habitats is a major factor in the decline of biodiversity. Roads, new crops, fences, water basins and other structures take over
habitats and sometimes fragment them to such an extent that animal
populations can no longer migrate or move freely, putting some species
at risk of extinction. There are alternatives that at least mitigate the impact
of these activities, such as the creation of biological corridors, but few
countries show such care and attention. When certain species disappear,
the entire ecosystem is affected. There are alternatives that at least mitigate
the effect of these activities, such as the creation of biological corridors,
but few countries show such concern and attention. When certain
species are commercially exploited, their growth patterns are not always studied
in order to avoid excessive decline and the resulting
disruption of the ecosystem.

To becontinued
Every day at 1 am