READING OF THE DAY First reading from the Book of Jeremias JER 38:4-6, 8-10
In those days, the princes said to the king: "Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin." King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power"; for the king could do nothing with them. And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
Ebed-melech, a court official, went there from the palace and said to him: "My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city." Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.
Second reading from the Letter to Hebrews HEB 12:1-4 Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to Luke LK 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER But why is this door narrow, one might ask? Why does he say it is narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive, but because it demands that we restrain and limit our pride and our fear, in order to open ourselves to Him with humble and trusting hearts, acknowledging that we are sinners and in need of his forgiveness. This is why it is narrow, to limit our pride, which swells us. The door of God’s mercy is narrow but is always open to everyone! God does not have preferences, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. (Angelus, 21 August 2016)
FAUSTI - The disciple lives in the light of God's judgment, the antidote to all hypocrisy. It is revealed in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, who baptizes us in the fire of the Spirit after He Himself has passed through the waters of death. This is His eschatological coming, already realized on the cross, which judges the world to save it. In reality, God's definitive judgment on the world is the gift of His Spirit. It marks the beginning of the last times when men are called to conversion and new life in baptism... This fire, which Jesus ascended to heaven and sent to earth, is very different from that invoked by James and John on the Samaritans. It is the final fruit of His mission, the fulfilment of the whole plan of God. In the Eucharist the disciple receives the Spirit. It is a fire that not even the waters of hell can extinguish, it is God's love for man, which springs from the death of the Son himself. The piece is characterized by urgency. In fact, His love for us is a fire that necessarily wants to light the one who loves. There is no love that does not desire to be loved. Jesus came to bring a fire, which has to pass through the water. What He wants, He forces Him to go through what He does not want. The resurrection comes after death. He himself is divided between a desire and an anguish, to the point of drawing blood. It is the struggle, in which love wins the extreme test. He himself, the Son, came to visit us from the Father in all our anguish, so that we might be free of them. The Messiah came to bring peace and unity among men. But this peace of His comes through division. It is not cheap, but at a high price, at the price of life. But he makes all things new (Rev 21:3-5...). This division is the decision that requires the following of the Lord.
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER The fire that Jesus speaks of is the fire of the Holy Spirit, the presence living and working in us from the day of our Baptism. It — the fire — is a creative force that purifies and renews, that burns all human misery, all selfishness, all sin, which transforms us from within, regenerates us and makes us able to love. Jesus wants the Holy Spirit to blaze like fire in our heart, for it is only from the heart that the fire of divine love can spread and advance the Kingdom of God. It does not come from the head, it comes from the heart. This is why Jesus wants fire to enter our heart. If we open ourselves completely to the action of this fire which is the Holy Spirit, He will give us the boldness and the fervor to proclaim to everyone Jesus and his consoling message of mercy and salvation, navigating on the open sea, without fear. (Angelus, 14 August 2016)
READING OF THE DAY
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the Book of Jeremias
JER 38:4-6, 8-10
In those days, the princes said to the king:
"Jeremiah ought to be put to death;
he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city,
and all the people, by speaking such things to them;
he is not interested in the welfare of our people,
but in their ruin."
King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power";
for the king could do nothing with them.
And so they took Jeremiah
and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah,
which was in the quarters of the guard,
letting him down with ropes.
There was no water in the cistern, only mud,
and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
Ebed-melech, a court official,
went there from the palace and said to him:
"My lord king,
these men have been at fault
in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah,
casting him into the cistern.
He will die of famine on the spot,
for there is no more food in the city."
Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite
to take three men along with him,
and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before
he should die.
Second reading from the Letter to Hebrews
HEB 12:1-4
Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
But why is this door narrow, one might ask? Why does he say it is narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive, but because it demands that we restrain and limit our pride and our fear, in order to open ourselves to Him with humble and trusting hearts, acknowledging that we are sinners and in need of his forgiveness. This is why it is narrow, to limit our pride, which swells us. The door of God’s mercy is narrow but is always open to everyone! God does not have preferences, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. (Angelus, 21 August 2016)
FAUSTI - The disciple lives in the light of God's judgment, the antidote to all hypocrisy.
RispondiEliminaIt is revealed in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, who baptizes us in the fire of the Spirit after He Himself has passed through the waters of death. This is His eschatological coming, already realized on the cross, which judges the world to save it.
In reality, God's definitive judgment on the world is the gift of His Spirit.
It marks the beginning of the last times when men are called to conversion and new life in baptism... This fire, which Jesus ascended to heaven and sent to earth, is very different from that invoked by James and John on the Samaritans.
It is the final fruit of His mission, the fulfilment of the whole plan of God.
In the Eucharist the disciple receives the Spirit. It is a fire that not even the waters of hell can extinguish, it is God's love for man, which springs from the death of the Son himself.
The piece is characterized by urgency.
In fact, His love for us is a fire that necessarily wants to light the one who loves.
There is no love that does not desire to be loved.
Jesus came to bring a fire, which has to pass through the water.
What He wants, He forces Him to go through what He does not want.
The resurrection comes after death. He himself is divided between a desire and an anguish, to the point of drawing blood. It is the struggle, in which love wins the extreme test.
He himself, the Son, came to visit us from the Father in all our anguish, so that we might be free of them.
The Messiah came to bring peace and unity among men.
But this peace of His comes through division.
It is not cheap, but at a high price, at the price of life.
But he makes all things new (Rev 21:3-5...).
This division is the decision that requires the following of the Lord.
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
RispondiEliminaThe fire that Jesus speaks of is the fire of the Holy Spirit, the presence living and working in us from the day of our Baptism. It — the fire — is a creative force that purifies and renews, that burns all human misery, all selfishness, all sin, which transforms us from within, regenerates us and makes us able to love. Jesus wants the Holy Spirit to blaze like fire in our heart, for it is only from the heart that the fire of divine love can spread and advance the Kingdom of God. It does not come from the head, it comes from the heart. This is why Jesus wants fire to enter our heart. If we open ourselves completely to the action of this fire which is the Holy Spirit, He will give us the boldness and the fervor to proclaim to everyone Jesus and his consoling message of mercy and salvation, navigating on the open sea, without fear. (Angelus, 14 August 2016)