A Syrian saint of the first century. A disciple of Peter.
First Bishop of Ravenna. Died c. 200
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
It is a recurring question that sometimes takes many believers by surprise: the search for clear-cut proof of God’s existence. Why does He not write His Name in large letters across the firmament? Why does He not provide irrefutable proof that He exists? Perhaps because we have a distorted view of who He wants to be for us. The sign of God is: the death of Jesus and his resurrection, the conversion of so many, and the salvation that is also reserved for non-believers. It is up to us to show one another the signs of God, and to be a sign of God to one another ourselves. How do I do that?
FIRST READING Micah 6:1–4, 6–8
The Lord has told you, O man, what is good,
and what He requires of you.
From the Prophet Micah
Hear what the Lord says.
Arise, bring your case before the courts,
in the presence of the mountains!
Let the hills hear your voice!
Listen, O mountains, to the Lord’s case,
and you too, O unshakeable ones,
foundations of the earth:
The Lord has a case against his people;
He intends to settle accounts with Israel.
“My people, what have I done to you,
and in what way have I burdened you?
“Answer me.
“Did I not lead you out of Egypt
and deliver you from the house of bondage;
I sent Moses before you,
and Aaron and Miriam.”
“With what shall I appear before the Lord,
and bow down before God on high?
“Shall I appear before Him with burnt offerings,
with yearling calves?
“Will the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams,
in ten thousand streams of oil?
“Must I, for my transgressions,
sacrifice my firstborn,
my child for the sins I have committed?”
The Lord has told you, O man, what is good,
and what He requires of you:
He desires nothing more
than that you observe justice,
that you honour faithfulness,
and that you be humble before your God.
Interludium Ps . 50(49), 5–6, 8–9, 16bc–17, 21, 23
Those who walk in the ways of righteousness shall find God’s salvation.
Bring hither all who are devoted to Me,
who have confirmed My covenant with a sacrifice.
The heavens bear witness to His righteousness;
it is God Himself who judges.
I do not reproach you for your sacrifices:
I see your sacrificial animals burning continually.
I want no more bulls from your houses,
nor do I ask for rams from your sheepfolds.
Why do you keep speaking of my commandments,
and why is my covenant ever on your lips?
You who detest discipline
and never heed my words.
Should I then remain silent whilst you do such things?
Or do you perhaps think that I am like you?
I accuse you. I lay everything before you.
Whoever offers sacrifices of praise truly honours Me,
whoever walks in the ways of righteousness finds the salvation of God.
ALLELUIA Acts 16:14b
Alleluia
Make our hearts receptive, Lord,
and may we be guided by the word of your Son.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mt. 12:38–42
The Queen of the South
shall rise up at the judgement with this generation.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
One day, some of the scribes and Pharisees
approached Jesus, saying:
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.”
But He replied to them:
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given to it,
except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights
in the belly of the great fish,
so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
“The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement
alongside this generation
and condemn it,
for they repented at Jonah’s preaching:
Well then, here is one greater than Jonah.
“The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgement,
together with this generation,
and condemn it,
for she came from the ends of the earth
to listen to the wisdom of Solomon:
Well then, here is one greater than Solomon.”
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Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On the Care of Our Common Home by Pope Francis
III. Dialogue and transparency in decision-making processes
182. Assessing the environmental impact of business initiatives and projects requires transparent political processes and dialogue,
whilst corruption aimed at concealing a project’s true environmental impact in exchange for favours,
often leads to ambiguous agreements that evade the duty to inform and engage in in-depth debate.
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.