Invitation
May I draw your attention to
The daily reading of the Gospel
This invitation seeks to convey the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception
can experience that joy by opening his or her heart
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day.
Consideration
The first reading must be understood from the story of Israel. That history was initially a triumphant journey from the wandering patriarchs, through slavery in Egypt, to the exodus, the conquest of Canaan and the heyday of the monarchy. Then the decay began and eventually there was nothing left: no city, no temple, no king, no monarchy. Azariah’s prayer plays out in that context. Today we pray it on behalf of all people in need.
FIRST READING Dan. 3, 25.34-43
May we be heard with you because of our broken hearts and humble spirits.
From the prophet Daniel
In those days
Azariah stood up and prayed this prayer
“For thy name’s sake: Surely thou wilt not cast us out forever
and break not thy covenant
spare us not thy mercy
For the sake of Abraham thy friend, for the sake of Isaac thy servant, and of Israel thy holy one.
And Israel, your holy one.
“To them you promised to make their descendants as numerous
as the stars in the sky
and the grains of sand on the shore of the sea.
“But now, O Lord, we have become the smallest people of all the peoples of the earth.
Of all the peoples of the earth
and we no longer matter anywhere in the world
because of our sins.
“Now we have no king, no prophet, no leader,
nor burnt offerings and sacrifices, nor meat offerings and incense,
not even a holy place where we can sacrifice to you
to experience your grace.
“But let us find an audience with You
for our broken hearts and humble spirits.
“May our sacrifice today consist
in perfect adherence to You
and may it please You as much
as much as we came with burnt offerings of rams and bulls
and with tens of thousands of fat lambs
for no reproach befalls those who trust in Thee.
“Now we follow Thee with all our heart;
We respect Thee and seek Thee.
“Yet let us not be dishonoured
But deal with us according to Thy goodness
And according to Your great mercy.
“Save us in Your wonderful way
and glorify, O Lord, Thy name”.
INTERLUDIUM Psalm 25(24), 4bc-5ab, 6-7bc, 8-9
Remember Your mercy, O Lord.
Show me Your ways, O Lord
Teach me your ways.
Guide me according to Your Word
For You are my God and my Redeemer.
Remember Your mercy, O Lord,
your ever-giving mercy.
Remember not the evil of my youth
but remember me with mercy.
The Lord is good and just,
therefore he shows sinners the way.
He leads the humble in honourable paths,
he teaches the simple what to do.
Verse for the gospel Joel 2:12-13
Turn to Me with all your heart, says the LORD
for I am gracious and merciful.
GOSPEL Mt 18:21-35
Whoever does not forgive his brother with all his heart will not forgive the Father either.
From the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew
At that moment Peter came to Jesus and said to Him:
“Lord, if my brother offends me, how often must I forgive him?
How many times must I forgive him?
Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered him.
“No, I won’t tell you that,
not up to seven times
but up to seventy times seven.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king
who wanted to give account
to his servants.
“When this began, someone was brought to him
who owed ten thousand talents.
“Since he had nothing with which to pay, the master ordered
to sell him with wife and children and everything he owned,
“to pay off the debt.
“The servant fell down before him and begged him: ‘Lord, have patience with me and repay me:
Lord, have patience with me and I will repay you everything.
“The master took pity on the servant ,
and he let him go and waived the loan.
“But when the servant went outside, he found another servant there,
he found another servant there
who owed him a hundred denarii;
And he grabbed him by the throat and said to him, ‘Pay what you owe:
Pay what you owe.
“The other servant fell down before him and begged him: ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you:
Have patience with me and I will pay you.
“But he refused and even put him in jail until he had paid his debt.
until he had paid his debt.
“When the other servants saw what had happened ,
they were deeply indignant
and went to tell their master.
“Then the master sent for him and said to him:
‘Ugly servant,
I have forgiven you all this guilt
Because you begged me.
“Then should you not
should you then not have had pity on your fellow servant
as I have had pity on you?
“And in anger
his master handed him over to the executioners
until he had paid all his debt.
“So will my heavenly Father deal with any of you
who does not wholeheartedly forgive his brother.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic by
POPE FRANCIS
On caring for the common home
217. If “external deserts multiply in the world because the deserts within have become so vast”, then the ecological crisis is a call for a profound inner conversion. However, we must also recognise that some committed and praying Christians, under the guise of realism and pragmatism, often scoff at environmental concerns. Others are passive, choosing not to change their habits and becoming incoherent. They thus lack ecological conversion, which means letting all the implications of their encounter with Jesus come to the fore in their relationship with the world around them. Living up to the call to be stewards of God’s work is an essential part of a virtuous existence, not an optional or secondary aspect of the Christian experience.
Continued
The Bible text in this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
Netherlands Bible Society 2004/2007.
Reflections on liturgical suggestions for the week and on Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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