http://www.evangelizo.org/ Receive every morning the daily lectures, by-email ! Catholic service, multilingual, free and confidential, according to liturgical calendar ... en Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:41:03 +0100 copyright evangelizo.org http://www.evangelizo.org/www/img-lang/croix.gif http://www.evangelizo.org/ «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68 LECTIO 1 2012-02-04 - LECTIO 1 http://dailygospel.org/ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the most renowned high place. Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand holocausts. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." Solomon answered: "You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David, because he behaved faithfully toward you, with justice and an upright heart; and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today, seating a son of his on his throne. O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?" The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this--not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right-- I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 PSALMUS 2012-02-04 - PSALMUS http://dailygospel.org/ How can the young walk without fault? Only by keeping your words. With all my heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commands. In my heart I treasure your promise, that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your laws. With my lips I recite all the edicts you have spoken. I find joy in the way of your decrees more than in all riches. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 EVANGELIUM 2012-02-04 - EVANGELIUM http://dailygospel.org/ The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 MEDITATIO 2012-02-04 - MEDITATIO http://dailygospel.org/ Don't just call God righteous. It isn't with regard to what you do that he reveals his righteousness. If David calls him just and upright (cf. Ps 33[32],5), his Son has revealed to us that, to an even greater degree, he is good and kind: «He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked» (Lk 6,35)... In what does the justice of God consist? Isn't it in the fact that «while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us»? (Rm 5,8). And if God shows himself compassionate here below then let us believe he has been so from all eternity. May the unjust thought that God does not show compassion be far from us! God's own being does not change as beings change who die...; nothing is lacking nor added to what he has when he comes to us creatures. But the compassion God has from the beginning, he will continue to have for eternity... As blessed Cyril says in his commentary on Genesis: worship God for love and not because of that unyielding name of justice we have placed on him. Love him as he should be loved: not for the reward he will give you but for what we have received, the world he created in order to offer it to us. Who could give back anything to him in return for what he has done for us? What is there among all our works that we might bestow on him? Who induced him to create us in the beginning? And who is it who prays for us when we fall short in acknowledgment? O how wonderful is God's compassion! How marvelous the grace of God, our creator!... Who can tell his glory? Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 LECTIO 1 2012-02-03 - LECTIO 1 http://dailygospel.org/ Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel. He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock. As a youth he slew the giant and wiped out the people's disgrace, When his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath. Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm To defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people, Therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung; He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. The LORD forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel. Because of his merits he had as his successor a wise son, who lived in security: SOLOMON reigned during an era of peace, for God made tranquil all his borders. He built a house to the name of God, and established a lasting sanctuary. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 PSALMUS 2012-02-03 - PSALMUS http://dailygospel.org/ God's way is unerring; the LORD'S promise is tried and true; he is a shield for all who trust in him. The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior! Thus I will proclaim you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. You have given great victories to your king, and shown kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 EVANGELIUM 2012-02-03 - EVANGELIUM http://dailygospel.org/ King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, «John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.» Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets." But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up." Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias's own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you." He even swore (many things) to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 MEDITATIO 2012-02-03 - MEDITATIO http://dailygospel.org/ "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us" (Rm 8,18). Who then does not labor in every way to arrive at such a glory as to become a friend of God, as to rejoice at once with Christ, as to re­ceive the divine rewards after earthly torments and punishments? If it is glorious for the soldiers of this world to return to their fatherland triumphant after vanquishing the enemy, how much better and greater is the glory for one who, after over­coming the devil, returns triumphant to heaven, and after laying him low who had formerly deceived us, brings back the trophies of victory there whence Adam, the sinner, had been ejected? To offer the Lord the most acceptable gift of an uncorrupted faith, an unshaken virtue of the mind, an illustrious praise of devotion?... To become co-heir of Christ, to be made equal to the angels, to rejoice with the patriarchs, with the apostles, with the prophets in the possession of the heavenly kingdom? What persecution can conquer these thoughts, what torments can overcome them?... The lands are shut off in persecutions, heaven is open... How great a dignity and, how great a security it is to go forth hence happy, to go forth glorious in the midst of difficulties and affliction! For a moment to shut the eyes with which men and the world are seen; to open them immediately that God and Christ may be seen!... If persecution should come upon such a soldier of God, virtue made ready for battle will not be able to be overcome him. Or if the summons should come beforehand, the faith which was prepared for martyr­dom will not be without its reward... In persecution God crowns loyal military service; in peace purity of conscience is crowned. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 LECTIO 1 2012-02-02 - LECTIO 1 http://dailygospel.org/ Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. He will sit refining and purifying (silver), and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old, as in years gone by. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 PSALMUS 2012-02-02 - PSALMUS http://dailygospel.org/ Lift up your heads, O gates; rise up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter. Who is this king of glory? The LORD, a mighty warrior, the LORD, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates; rise up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter. Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts is the king of glory. Selah Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 EVANGELIUM 2012-02-02 - EVANGELIUM http://dailygospel.org/ When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100 MEDITATIO 2012-02-02 - MEDITATIO http://dailygospel.org/ The «Father of lights» (Jam 1,17) is inviting the children of light (Lk 16,18) to celebrate the feast of light: «Look to him that you may be radiant with joy» says the Psalm (34[33],6). In fact, he who «dwells in unapproachable light» (1Tm 6,16) has condescended to become approachable. He has come down in the cloud of his flesh that the weak and small might mount up to him. What a descent of mercy! «He inclined the heavens,» that is to say, the heights of his divinity, «and came down» by becoming present in the flesh, «with dark clouds under his feet» (Ps 18[17],10)... A necessary darkness to turn us to light! The true light was hidden beneath the cloud of his flesh (cf. Ex 13,21) - a dark cloud by reason of its «likeness to sinful flesh» (Rm 8,3)... Since the true Light has made flesh his hiding place let us, who are beings of flesh, draw near to the Word made flesh... that we may learn to pass by degrees to the spiritual flesh. Let us now draw near for today a new sun is shining even more than is its wont. Up till now he was enclosed in the narrowness of a crib in Bethlehem and was known by hardly anyone, but today, at Jerusalem, he is presented in front of a great number of people in the Temple of the Lord... Today the Sun breaks out to shine over the whole world... If only my soul could burn with the desire that inflamed Simeon's heart that I, too, might be worthy of becoming the bearer of so great a light! But unless the soul has first of all been purified from its sins it cannot go «to meet Christ on the clouds» of true freedom (1Thes 4,17)... Only then will it be able to rejoice in the true light with Simeon and, like him, to depart in peace. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100