Invitation
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.
Opening words
In every celebration of the Eucharist, the call resounds
to repent and to root our lives in God.
He speaks His Word to us
and sows us like good seed in this world.
Yet we do not always cooperate with God’s kingdom,
and it is not only the good that grows within us,
but also that which holds us back from it.
Let us therefore turn to the living Lord,
who wishes to strengthen us through his Word and Bread
and promises us his mercy, time and again.
FIRST READING Wisdom 12:13, 16–19
Where there is sin, You offer the chance for repentance.
From the Book of Wisdom
Apart from You, there is no other God
who cares for all things,
no other God to whom You would have to prove
that You have not judged unjustly.
Your power is the foundation of your justice,
and because You rule over all,
You also treat all with gentleness.
Where people do not believe in Your absolute power,
there You display Your strength;
and for those who have experienced it,
You remove all grounds for arrogance.
You, however, who possess that power,
pronounce Your judgement with great gentleness
and govern us with great benevolence,
for You can display Your power whenever You wish.
By doing so, You have taught Your people
that the righteous must be a friend to mankind,
and You have filled Your children with hope,
that where sin is committed,
You offer the chance for repentance.
Responsorial Psalm Ps. 86(85), 5–6, 9–10, 15–16a
Refrain:
You are good and gracious, Lord.
You are good and gracious, Lord,
merciful to all who call upon You.
Hear, then, Lord, my prayer,
give heed to my pleading voice.
One day the nations, your creatures, will return
to worship you, to praise your Name.
For you are great, O Lord, and great is your creation;
you are the one and only God.
You, Lord my God, are merciful and good,
patient, gracious and faithful.
Look upon me, then, have mercy on me,
and grant your servant your strength.
SECOND READING Rom. 8:26–27
The Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words
From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians of
Rome
Brothers and sisters,
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness.
For we do not even know how we ought to pray,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groanings too deep for words.
And He who searches the hearts,
knows what the Spirit intends,
for He intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Gospel Acclamation Cf . Mt 11:25
Alleluia.
Blessed are You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because You have revealed the mysteries of the kingdom to little children.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt 13:24–43 or 24–30
Let both grow together until the harvest.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that time, Jesus told the crowd this parable:
‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man
who sowed good seed in his field;
but whilst the people were asleep, his enemy came,
sowed weeds amongst the wheat and went away.
“When the plants had grown and borne fruit,
the weeds also became visible.
“Then the servants went to their master and said to him:
‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?
‘How is it, then, that there are weeds in it?’
‘He replied to them:
‘That is the work of an enemy.’
‘The servants said to him:
‘Do you want us to gather them up?’
“But he said:
‘No, I am afraid that if you gather up the weeds,
you will uproot the wheat as well.’
“Let both grow together until the harvest,
and at harvest time I will tell the reapers:
First gather the weeds together,
and bind them in bundles to be burnt;
but store the wheat in my barn.’
Jesus told them another parable:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed,
which a man sowed in his field.
“It is indeed the smallest of all seeds,
but once it has sprouted,
it is larger than the other garden plants;
it becomes a tree,
so that the birds come and make their nests in its branches.”
Jesus told them yet another parable:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast,
which a woman mixed into three measures of flour,
until the whole batch was leavened.”
Jesus spoke all these things to the people in parables;
and He taught them nothing without using parables,
so that the word spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will reveal
what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Then He dismissed the crowd and returned home.
His disciples came to Him and said:
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He replied:
“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;
the field is the world;
the good seed are the children of the Kingdom;
the weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.
“The harvest is the end of the world;
and the reapers are the angels.
“Just as the weeds are now gathered up
and burnt in the fire,
so it will be at the end of the world.
“The Son of Man will send out his angels,
and they will gather out of his Kingdom
all who lead others into sin and practise unrighteousness,
to cast them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Then the righteous will shine in their Father’s Kingdom,
like the sun.
“Let anyone with ears listen.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care for Our Common Home
181. Continuity is essential, because political policies relating to
climate change and environmental protection cannot be changed
whenever there is a change of government. Results take a long time to materialise and entail immediate costs, the effects of which do not become apparent during a government’s term of office. Therefore, without pressure from the public and institutions, there will always be resistance to taking action, particularly when urgent issues need to be resolved. The fact that a politician takes on this responsibility, with the associated costs, does not correspond to the ‘
take action, certainly when urgent issues need to be resolved. The fact that a politician takes on this responsibility, with the associated costs, does not fit in with the “efficiency- and immediate-results-oriented” logic of today’s economy and politics, but if he has the courage to do so nonetheless, he will once again be able to recognise the dignity that God has given him, and will be able to
results’ of today’s economy and politics, but if he has the courage to do so nonetheless, he will once again be able to recognise the dignity that God has bestowed upon him, and he will leave behind a testimony of noble responsibility. More scope must be created for a sound policy capable of reforming institutions,
coordinating them and making it possible to overcome pressure and pernicious
inertia. It must be added, however, that the
best measures ultimately fail when there is a lack of great goals,
as well as values and a humanistic outlook on life capable of
giving every society a noble and generous direction.
To be continued.
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text 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