Consideration

What exactly is sin? From a biblical perspective, sin is a kind of mindset from which we organise our lives. This mindset consists of being constantly preoccupied with ourselves. If we follow that path in our lives, we find ourselves on a dead end; we become paralysed and can no longer make any progress. Conversion, then, means recognising this dead end and this paralysis. It also means allowing others to take you in and carry you to the Lord. He is merciful and heals.

FIRST READING              Amos 7, 10–17

Go as a prophet to my people Israel.

From the prophet Amos

In those days Amaziah, the priest of Bethel,
sent this message to Jeroboam, king of Israel:
“Within your own Israel, Amos is plotting against you;
the land cannot withstand all his threats.
“For he, Amos, says:
‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall be driven from its own land.’”
And Amaziah said to Amos:
“Seer, you must get out of here!
“Go to Judah
and earn your living there by prophesying!
“You must no longer prophesy here in Bethel,
for this sanctuary belongs to the king
and this building to the kingdom.”
Amos replied to Amaziah:
“I am neither a prophet nor a member of a prophetic order;
I am a herdsman and a fig-grower.
“But the Lord took me from tending my flocks,
and it was the Lord who said to me:
‘Go as a prophet to my people Israel.’
“Therefore, listen to the word of the Lord.
“You say:
‘You must not prophesy against Israel,
nor rail against the house of Israel.’
“But the Lord says:
‘Your wife will commit adultery in this city,
your sons and daughters will perish by the sword,
your own land will be divided by the measuring line;
you yourself shall die on defiled ground,
and Israel shall be banished from its land.”

INTERLUDIUM            Ps. 19(18), 8, 9, 10, 11

The Lord’s words are true,
righteous in every matter.

The Lord’s law is perfect,
it revives the weary soul.
His precepts are trustworthy,
they give wisdom to the simple.

All his commands are just,
a delight to the soul.
His precepts are crystal clear,
they are a light to the eyes.

The word of the Lord is true,
it remains true for ever.
His pronouncements are true,
righteous in every matter.

More sought after than gold or jewels,
as sweet as the drippings of honey.

ALLELUIA            1 Sam. 3, 9, John 6, 69b

Alleluia.
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening;
your words are words of eternal life.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL             Matt . 9:1–8

The crowd glorified God,
who had given such power to human beings.

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

At that time, Jesus got into a boat,
crossed over and came to his own town.
They brought to him a paralysed man lying on a bed.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man:
‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’
Some of the scribes then said to themselves:
‘That man is blaspheming.’
But Jesus knew their thoughts and said:
‘Why do you harbour evil thoughts within yourselves?
‘Which is easier, to say:
“Your sins are forgiven”, or:
“Get up and walk”?
“Now, so that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—
and now He spoke to the paralysed man:—
“Get up, take your bed and go home.”
And the paralysed man got up and went home.
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe
and they glorified God,
who had given such power to human beings.

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

I. The dialogue on the environment in international politics

164. Since the middle of the last century, after overcoming many difficulties,
there has been a growing tendency to regard the planet as a homeland
and humanity as a people inhabiting a common home. A world of interdependence
means not only understanding that the harmful consequences of
lifestyles, production and consumption affect everyone, but above all ensuring
that the solutions are proposed from a global perspective and not merely to defend
the interests of a few countries. This interdependence obliges us to think of one world,
a shared project. Yet the very same reasoning that
is used to justify enormous technological development fails to
identify effective forms of international governance to resolve the serious
environmental and social challenges. To tackle the fundamental problems,
which cannot be resolved by the actions of individual countries,
a global consensus is essential,
which, for example, leads to the planning of sustainable and diversified agriculture,
the development of renewable and low-polluting forms of energy,
the promotion of greater energy efficiency,
promoting more effective management of forest and marine resources,
and ensuring access to drinking water for all.

To be continued
Every day at 1 am