Introduction
May I take this opportunity to 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 hearts
to the healing power of God’s Word.
Available every day.
Consideration
The reading from Amos serves as a prelude to tomorrow’s reading. Amos denounces the contrast between liturgical feasts and worship on the one hand, and immoral practices and injustice on the other. God is disgusted by festivals and sacrifices without justice. Psalm 50 emphasises this once again.
FIRST READING Amos 5, 14–15, 21–24
Spare me the clamour of your songs.
Justice must flow
like a stream that never runs dry.
From the Prophet Amos
Seek good and not evil:
then you shall live,
then God, the Lord of hosts,
will be with you, as you always say.
Hate evil, love what is good,
and uphold justice at the city gate;
perhaps then the Lord, the God of hosts,
have compassion on the remnant of Joseph.
For thus says the Lord:
‘I hate, I detest your festivals,
I cannot bear your celebrations.
‘The burnt offerings and grain offerings you bring to Me,
are not pleasing to Me;
I can no longer bear to look upon your peace offerings of fattened calves.
“Spare Me the clamour of your songs;
I will hear no more the sound of your harps!
“No, justice must flow like water,
and righteousness like a stream that never runs dry.”
INTERLUDIUM Ps . 0(49), 7, 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 1bc–17
Whoever walks in the ways of righteousness finds God’s salvation.
Hear now, my people, what I am about to say to you,
hear, Israel, the charges I bring against you,
for I am God, your God!
I do not reproach you for your sacrifices:
I see your sacrificial animals burning continually.
I no longer want a bull from your houses,
nor do I ask for rams from your sheepfolds.
For all the animals in the forest belong to Me,
the thousands that roam my mountains.
The birds of the air—I know them all;
all that moves in the fields is Mine.
I would not say this to you if I were hungry;
I have at My disposal all that lives on earth.
Would I ever eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
Why do you speak ceaselessly of my commandments,
and have my covenant ever on your lips?
You who abhor discipline,
and never heed my words?
ALLELUIA cf. Lk 8, 15
Alleluia.
Blessed are those who take the word of God which they have heard
and keep it in a good and noble heart,
and bear fruit through their perseverance.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt. 8, 28–34
What have you to do with us, Son of God?
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
When Jesus had crossed over to the other side of the lake,
into the country of the Gadarenes,
two possessed men came running towards Him.
They emerged from the tombs,
and were so dangerous that no one could pass that way.
Suddenly they began to shout:
‘What have you to do with us, Son of God?
‘Have you come here to torment us before the time?’
Some distance away from them,
a large herd of pigs was being tended.
The demons then begged Him:
‘If You cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.’
He said to them, ‘Go.’
And they left them.
No sooner had they entered the pigs,
than the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake
and drowned.
The swineherds fled,
and when they reached the town they told everyone
including what had happened to the possessed men.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus;
and when they saw Him,
they begged Him to leave their district.
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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On the Care of Our Common Home
Chapter Five
Some guidelines for orientation and action.
163. I have sought to examine the current situation of humanity,
both in terms of the fractures evident in the planet we inhabit, and
the profoundly human causes of environmental destruction.
Although thisexamination of reality in itself points to the need for a change of course
and suggests that measures be taken, we now wish to outline avenues for dialogue
that should help us escape the spiral of self-destruction into which we are, quite rightly, heading.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible passage in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official english Translation