Invitation
May I draw your attention to:
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation aims to share with you the joy of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day
Consideration
Jesus holds up Abraham as a model, for he, unlike his interlocutors, believed. Jesus even suggests that He is greater than Abraham. The critical question is: ‘Are you greater than our father Abraham?’ We have heard that somewhere before: in the story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. There the question is: ‘Are you greater than our father Jacob?’ The woman’s attitude, however, evolves from scornful unbelief to growing faith in Jesus. Today we see how the initial mocking disbelief turns into growing malice. The cross is no longer far off.
FIRST READING Gen. 17, 3-9
You shall become the father of a multitude of nations.
From the Book of Genesis
At that time, Abram fell prostrate,
and God said to him: “This is my covenant with you:
You shall become the father of a multitude of nations.
“You shall no longer be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a multitude of nations.
“I will make you exceedingly fruitful,
I will make nations of you,
and kings shall come from you.
“I am establishing a covenant between me and you,
and your descendants,
generation after generation,
an everlasting covenant:
I will be your God and the God of your descendants,
“All the land of Canaan, where you are now a stranger,
I will give to you and your descendants;
to possess it for ever,
and I will be their God.”
God also said to Abraham:
“You, for your part, must keep my covenant,
you and your descendants, generation after generation.”
INTERLUDIO Ps. 105 (104), 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
His covenant remains in force for ever.
Put your trust in God, in his mighty arm,
and seek his face always.
Never forget the wonders He performed,
His signs and His promises.
You, the offspring of His servant Abraham,
you sons of Jacob, His beloved.
The Lord, He is our only God,
what He decrees applies to the whole earth.
His covenant remains in force for ever,
what He has promised for a thousand generations.
The covenant He made with Abraham of old,
the oath He once swore to Isaac.
VERSES BEFORE THE GOSPEL cf. Lk 8, 15
Blessed are those who hear the word
and keep it in a good and noble heart;
and bear fruit;
through their steadfastness.
of whom thou sayest:
He is our God.
“Yet ye know Him not.
“I, on the other hand, know Him;
And if I said that I do not know Him
I would be like unto thee: A liar.
“But I know Him and keep His word.
“Abraham, thy father rejoiced for joy
At the thought that he would see my day:
He saw it and rejoiced.”
Then the Jews said to Him:
“Thou art not yet fifty years old
and Thou hast seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered them:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you:
for I am Abraham.”
Then they picked up stones to stone Him
but Jesus withdrew and left the temple.
GOSPEL John 8, 51-59
Abraham, your father, rejoiced with joy at the thought of seeing my day.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
At that time, Jesus said to the Jews:
“Truly, truly, I say to you:
If anyone keeps my word,
he shall never see death.”
Then the Jews said to him:
“Now we know for certain that you are possessed by the devil.
“For Abraham and the prophets have died,
yet you claim:
‘If anyone keeps my word,
he will never taste death.’
“Are you greater than our father Abraham?
Who has died?
“Even the prophets have died.
“Who do You think You are?”
Jesus answered:
“If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing;
But it is My Father who glorifies Me,
Of whom you say:
He is our God.
“You do not know Him.
“I, on the other hand, know Him.
And if I were to say that I do not know Him,
I would be like you: a liar.
“But I know Him and keep His word.
“Abraham, your father, rejoiced with joy
at the thought that he would see my day:
He saw it and rejoiced.”
Then the Jews said to Him:
“You are not yet fifty years old
and You have seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered them:
“Truly, truly, I say to you:
Before Abraham was, I am.”
Then they picked up stones to stone Him
but Jesus withdrew and left the temple.
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Laudato Si
Encyclical by
POPE FRANCIS
On Care for Our Common Home
68. This responsibility towards a world that belongs to God
implies that human beings, endowed with reason, must respect the laws of nature and the
delicate balance between the creatures of this world, “for by his
command he made them all; he established them for ever, and gave
them a law that remains for ever” (Ps. 148:5b–6). It follows from this that
biblical law sets out various standards for human beings, not only
in relation to other people, but also in relation to other
living creatures: “If your brother’s donkey or ox falls down,
you must not stand idly by without lifting a hand […]. When you find a bird’s nest in a tree or on the ground,
with young or with eggs, and the mother is sitting on them, you must not take the mother and leave the young behind”
(Deut. 22:4, 6). In this vein, the rest on the seventh day is not merely prescribed for humans,
but also so that “your ox and your donkey may rest” (Ex. 23:12). Thus we realise that
the Bible does not give rise to a despotic anthropocentrism that cares nothing for other creatures.
To be continued…
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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