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’ conversation with Nicodemus makes clear just how great God’s love for humanity is.
These are not words chosen at random, intended solely for Nicodemus; Jesus’ words are always meant for all people of all times, and therefore for us too. He asks us to direct our lives towards God. If we do not do so, we render God powerless to make his love known. If we turn away from the light that Jesus wishes to let shine in the world, then the light cannot reach us. Not because it is not effective enough, but because by erecting barriers we prevent it from reaching us. This gives us a certain responsibility which we are free to accept or reject. We can make choices, for good or for evil.
FIRST READING Acts 5, 17-26
The men whom you put in prison are in the
temple, teaching the people.
From the Acts of the Apostles
In those days the high priest and all his party,
who were of the sect of the Sadducees,
were filled with fierce jealousy.
They seized the apostles and put them in the city prison.
But during the night,
an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors,
led them out and said:
“Go,
return to the temple
and preach all these words of Life to the people.”
They obeyed,
went to the temple at daybreak
and taught there.
Now when the high priest came with his men,
they summoned the Sanhedrin,
the council of the elders of the people of Israel,
and sent servants to the prison to fetch them.
But on arrival, the servants found them no longer in the dungeon.
They returned with the report:
“We found the prison firmly locked,
and the guards at their posts before the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one there.”
When they heard this,
the commander of the temple and the chief priests,
—worried about this—
wondered what consequences this might have.
But no one came to report to them:
“The men whom you put in the dungeon
are in the temple, teaching the people.”
Thereupon the commander went with his servants to fetch them
— but without using force,
for fear of being stoned by the people.
Interludium Ps. 34(33), 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Those who cry out in distress, the Lord hears them.
I will praise the Lord every day,
his praise is ever on my lips.
My spirit rejoices in the Lord’s favour,
let all who hear it rejoice.
Glorify the Lord together with me,
and let us honour His Name in unity.
I went to the Lord and He answered me,
He saved me from all that I feared.
Trust in Him, and you will be happy,
for He will not let you down.
Those who cry out in distress, the Lord hears them
and rescues them from their misery.
The angel of God encamps round them,
to protect all who fear God.
Take heed and see how gracious the Lord is,
blessed is he who seeks his salvation in Him.
ALLELUIA Col. 3, 1
Alleluia.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 3, 16-21
God sent his Son into the world, so that the world
might be saved through Him.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time, Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“For God so loved the world
that He gave His only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish
but have eternal life.
“God did not send His Son
into the world to judge the world,
but so that the world might be saved through Him.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed
in the name of God’s only Son.
“This is the judgement:
the light has come into the world,
but people loved the darkness rather than the light,
because their deeds were evil.
“Everyone who does evil hates the light
and does not come to the light
for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
“But whoever does what is true comes to the light,
so that it may be seen that his deeds have been done in God.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
Pope Francis
On Care for Our Common Home
87. When one realises the reflection of God in all that exists,
the heart feels the desire to praise the Lord for all his
creatures and to worship him together with them, as is evident in
the beautiful song of Saint Francis of Assisi:
“Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures;
especially Sister Sun, who is the day, and through whom You enlighten us.
And she is beautiful and radiant with great splendour:
she is the image of You, Most High…
Praised be You, my Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens You have formed them, bright and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, for Brother Wind,
and for the air and the clouds and the fair weather and every season,
through which You sustain Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, for Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and pure.
Praised be You, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light up the night:
and he is beautiful and cheerful and powerful and strong”.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation