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Monday, January 2, 2012

Daily Bible Readings - January 1, 2012

Be Renewed by His Word

The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than a double-edged sword. The question is whether or not we allow the Word of God to take root in our lives and so cut away our sins and form us from within.
Paul tells us that conversion is all about the renewal of our minds according to the will of God and the grace and power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). Francis Martin, an OFM priest, believes that the biggest challenge the Church faces in the 21st century is the battle for the minds of people. The devil works to distract the people of God from matters of truth with his lies and the pursuit of pleasure over responsibility. We see this already happening in the compromises that people take with regard to sexual ethics and life issues such as abortion and euthanasia.
The Holy Spirit works to form men and women in the mind of Christ according to the truth of our being created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). If we believe this, we will be constantly challenged to make a stand against the world’s values, which see life as another commodity to be traded according to the desires of the economy. We have to stand up for the truth. This is why daily reflection of the Scripture is important. It will form us in the mind of Christ and we will know what God asks of us — to be men and women of the light, of the truth, and of the Gospel, commissioned to bring the Good News of salvation to the ends of the earth.
God bless you all and may you remain faithful to forming your minds and hearts according to the mind and heart of God. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL


Five Steps in Using Companion

1. PRAY
Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit:
Father, speak to me. I wish to receive Your Word into my heart. Send forth Your Spirit to me. Reveal Your Face to me today…

2. READ
Prayerfully read the Bible passages assigned for the day, and underline words, phrases or verses that strike you.

3. READ DIDACHE
Read your Didache reflection for the day.

4. WRITE
Write your reflections and prayers in response to the Bible passages you have read.

5. PRAY AGAIN
Thank the Lord for His message to you, and pray that you may be able to live it out in your daily life. Father, I thank You, Your Word is manna to my spirit. May Your Word that I receive today transform my soul. Make me more like You. Amen.



1st READING

Blessings are always a sign of God’s pleasure. We forget about this at times, therefore, we do not fully appreciate the significance of receiving a blessing from Him. When we meet someone we greet them and ask them how they are doing. It is a sign of politeness to do this, just as it is a sign of God’s favour when we receive His blessing. Let us open our hearts anew this year with greater expectation and openness to receiving the blessings of God in whatever form they may come.

Numbers 6:22-27
22 The Lord said to Moses: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you! 25 The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! 26 The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! 27 So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

P S A L M

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R: May God bless us in his mercy.
1 [2] May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. 2 [3] So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) 4 [5] May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) 5 [6] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! 7 [8] May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

2nd READING

We are subject to all types of laws. How do we understand the blessing of these laws? They are a blessing as they help us to understand what theCdemands of God, society or life in general make upon us. It is not for us to determine right and wrong in an absolute sense. The Law does this for us. It is up to us how we follow the law in our lives.

Galatians 4:4-7
4 Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

G O S P E L

Mary is the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus. What does this mean? It means that she has been given a special role in mediating between the Son of God and us. Through her humility and obedience, she brings Jesus into the world. Each of us can also do this through our own obedience to God’s will. We can all be mediators of God to the world by witnessing to His presence in our lives through following His will for us.

gospel acclamation
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

Luke 2:16-21
16 The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


think: Blessings are always a sign of God’s pleasure.

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

_______________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________


READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 1-3

SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

JoPERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
The ultimate purpose of my life
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
GOALS FOR THE QUARTER
Priority areas God wants me to work on
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________


PRAYER SHEET FOR
Things I will pray for regularly MY LIFE

DATE PERSONAL NEED DATE GOD’S ANSWERS
When I “Until now, you have not When the “Ask and you shall receive,
started asked for anything in My Name.” answer that your joy may be full.”
praying - John 16: 24a came - John 16: 24b


PRAYER SHEET FOR
Things I will pray for regularly MY LIFE

EVANGELISM LIST CARING LIST
People God wants me to People God wants me to
bring closer to Him pray for and show more love to

TODAY’S

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