1st READING
This text was read out by Jesus when He first began His ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth. At that time Jesus said, “This scripture is being fulfilled even as I read it.” We see that God foretells in a marvelous way what He is going to do even 600 years before it comes about. Nothing takes God by surprise and He is always working to see His plans fulfilled, no matter what men may conspire to thwart. This should give us a deep and abiding confidence in all the promises of God. He will surely make happen what He had said.
Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11
1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, 2 to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. 10 I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. 11 As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.
P S A L M
Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
R: My soul rejoices in my God.
46 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48 For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generation will call me blessed: (R) 49 the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. (R) 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to helped of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promised of mercy. (R)
2nd READING
St. Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians to rejoice always. This is not always easy as many things happen to make us sad and cause us pain. Yet we know that in all things God is at work for our good and, on the basis of faith in God’s love and care for us, we can rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.
G O S P E L
John the Baptist knew that he was not the Messiah but rather the forerunner to Him. God gave Him a particular mission to prepare the people for the coming of Christ and to baptize them as a sign of their repentance of their sins. He did not think he was even worthy to be a servant of the Messiah and did not want to draw people to himself but to direct them to Christ. May we be humble like John and not seek fame and popularity but rather direct people to the source of life, Christ Jesus.
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
John 1:6-8, 19-28
6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 19 And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Some Pharisees were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
my reflections
t h i n k : May we be humble like John and not seek fame and popularity but rather direct people to the source of life, Christ Jesus.
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 Colossians 1-4
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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