Daily Bible Readings

July 3, 2011
1st READING
The prophet Zechariah invites us to rejoice in joyful expectation of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, who comes to overcome the power of sin. Joy is always the sign of faith and confidence in God’s loving help.

Zechariah 9:9-10
9 Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. 10 He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

P S A L M
Psalms 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
R: I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.
1 I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. (R) 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 13 The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

2nd READING

The Apostle Paul reminds the Christians in Rome that the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in them. Since we have this wonderful gift and power dwelling in us, let us take hold of all He offers us and not let our lives be dominated by our sinful desires.

Romans 8:9, 11-13
9 Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

G O S P E L

Jesus invites us, His disciples, to come to Him because He wants to give us His comfort, peace and rest. How much of our lives are under the control of compulsions that drive us relentlessly? The Gospel’s call today is for us to come and allow Jesus to order our lives so that we will dwell in Him and in His peace.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus exclaimed, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

my reflections
t h i n k : How much of our lives are under the control of compulsions that drive us relentlessly?

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 56-60