Belgian missionary nun in China. Born on 28 December 1872 and died on 9 July 1900.
She was murdered along with other Christians during the Boxer Rebellion in Taiyuan, China
Invitation
May I take this opportunity to 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
Today’s reading continues the theme from yesterday. Those who repent do not have to repay everything down to the last penny. God is merciful, just like the father of the prodigal son. Repentance itself and the plea for forgiveness are enough for Him. Our words are offerings. Psalm 51 emphasises that mercy and compassion of God, who delights in sincerity.
FIRST READING Hos. 14:2–10
We shall never again say to the work of our hands:
‘You are our God.’
From the Prophet Hosea
Thus says the Lord:
“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your sin.
“Bring your words as an offering,
return to the Lord and say to Him:
‘You do forgive all sin;
accept also our good will:
We will offer our words as sacrificial animals.
“Assyria cannot save us;
we shall no longer ride on horses,
and to the work of our own hands
we shall never again say: ‘You are our God.’
“For You, O Lord, are the One
with whom the orphan finds compassion.
“I will heal them of their unfaithfulness,” says the Lord, “
and bestow my love upon them wholeheartedly.
“My anger has turned away from them.
“I will be like the dew to Israel:
He shall blossom like a lily,
and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
“His shoots shall spread out,
his splendour shall be like that of the olive tree,
its fragrance that of Lebanon.
“They shall once more sit in its shade;
they shall be able to grow grain,
they shall flourish like the vine
and be renowned like the wine of Lebanon.
“What, then, have I to do with idols, O Ephraim?
“It is I who answer him
and who care for him.
“I am like an evergreen cypress:
It is to Me that you owe your fruit.”
Who is wise enough to realise this,
who is discerning enough to understand it?
Indeed, the ways of the Lord are just:
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious fall by the wayside.
Interludium Ps. 51(50), 3–4, 8–9, 12–13, 14, 17
Lord, loose my lips,
that my mouth may sing your praise.
God, have mercy on me in your compassion,
blot out my sin in your mercy.
Wash away my guilt completely,
cleanse me from all my sins.
For You delight in sincerity,
You have taught me to look into my own heart.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, that I may be cleansed,
wash me, that I may be whiter than snow.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
restore to me a steadfast spirit.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the abundance of Your blessing,
strengthen me in generosity.
Lord, loose my lips,
that my mouth may sing your praise.
ALLELUIA Ps . 119(118), 18
Alleluia.
Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may behold,
the glory of your law.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt. 10:16–23
It is not you who speak,
but the Spirit of the Father speaks through you.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time, Jesus said to the Twelve:
“Behold, I am sending you out like sheep amongst wolves.
“Be therefore as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
“Beware of men.
They will hand you over to the courts
and flog you in their synagogues.
“You will be brought before governors and kings
for my sake,
so that you may bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
“But when they hand you over,
do not worry about how or what you are to say:
At that moment you will be given what to say.
“For it is not you who speak,
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“One brother will hand over another to be put to death,
a father his child;
children will rise up against their parents
and have them put to death.
“You will be hated by all,
for my Name’s sake.
“But whoever endures to the end,
he will be saved.
“When you are persecuted in one town,
flee to another.
“Truly, I say to you:
You will not have finished with the towns of Israel
by the time the Son of Man comes.”
To be continued
Every morning at 7 am
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care for Our Common Home
172. For poor countries, the eradication of poverty and the
social development of their inhabitants must be a priority; at the same time, they must
examine the scandalous levels of consumption in certain privileged sectors
of their population and tackle corruption more effectively. Certainly,
they must also develop less polluting forms of energy production,
but to do so they must be able to count on the help of those countries
which have grown significantly at the expense of the planet’s current pollution.
The direct harnessing of abundant solar energy requires the establishment of
mechanisms and subsidies to ensure that developing countries
have access to technology transfer, technical
assistance and financial resources, whilst always taking into account
the specific circumstances, since “the costs of the installations are not always adequately
assessed in relation to the context for which they are
designed’ are not always properly assessed”. The costs would be low
compared to the risk of climate change. In any case,
it is, above all, an ethical decision, based on the solidarity of
all peoples.
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
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