Daily Bible Readings

June 17, 2011
1st READING

Paul is like an anxious father to the communities he has established throughout Greece and Asia-Minor. Somebody who begins a work always has a special place in their heart for that work. However, when it comes to building communities there comes a time when founders have to let go and allow others to take up the leadership in the community. If they have done their job well this should be a relatively smooth transition.

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30
18 Brothers and sisters: Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 21 To my shame I say that we were too weak! But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they children of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.)I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. 24 Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; 26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fasting, through cold and exposure. 28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

P S A L M

Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: From all their distress God rescues the just.
1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R)


G O S P E L

Jesus reminds us all that there are things worth giving our time and effort to and there are even more things that are not! We need to use discernment to determine this difference so that we do not give our lives over to tasks and projects that will have no lasting value. One of the tragedies of the spiritual life is to be seen in good men and women pouring out their lives in projects that are not going to amount to anything in terms of building the Kingdom of God. They may be doing good things but are they doing what God wants them to do? If not then Satan wins this battle as he has successfully distracted them from their true mission.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 6:19-23
19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
Job 22-25
my reflections
t h i n k : When it comes to building communities there comes a time when founders have to let go and allow others to take up the leadership in the community.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Job 22-25