Daily Bible Readings

October 17, 2011
1st READING

The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham did not doubt God’s promises to him but instead was empowered by faith. This is a very good thing to remember. Faith empowers us while unbelief leaves us desolate and helpless. That is why faith is called our shield — it protects our hearts and keeps us strong. Let us affirm again our trust, faith and confidence in God and in His promises to us.

Romans 4:20-25
20 Brothers and sisters: Abraham did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God 21 and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. 22 That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 But it was not for him alone that it was written that “it was credited to him”; 24 it was also for us, to whom it will be credited, who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification.

P S A L M

Luke 1:68-69, 70-72, 73-75
R: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
68 He has come to his people and set them free. 69 He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. (R) 70 Through his holy prophets he promised of old 71 that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. 72 He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. (R) 73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to set us free from the hand of enemies, free to worship him without fear, 75 holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. (R)

G O S P E L

In the parable of the rich man, Jesus shows us the futility of seeking to gain earthly riches at the expense of our souls. All the wealth of the world cannot save one soul, who can only be purchased with the precious blood of Christ. The problem with riches is that we never have enough. As followers of Jesus in a world of great disparities of wealth, we have a moral responsibility to live simply and not use our riches selfishly to live self-indulgent lives while others do not even have the basics in life like shelter, clean water and education.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

my reflections
think: Faith empowers us while unbelief leaves us desolate and helpless.

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 Amos 7-9