1ST READING
This prophecy shows the Jews’ understanding about the coming Messiah. As we reflect upon it today, let us look forward to the life of Jesus and see how He fulfills all these hopes in His ministry and proclamation of the Gospel. In fact He does far more than this and also brings with Him the fullness of salvation. God was preparing the Jews to receive the Messiah and Redeemer of the world. I wonder how it is they missed Him when He came?
Isaiah 35:4-7
4 Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; 6 then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. 7 The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
PS A L M
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R: Praise the Lord, my soul!
7 The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives good to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R) 8 The Lord gives sight to the blind; The Lord raises up those that were bowed down; the Lord loves the just; 9 The Lord protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)
2nd READING
James made his point clear – there are no ”classes of people” in the Kingdom of God. You are either “in” or “out.” There are no half-measures in this regard either. Too often we fall into the mistake of judging a person by the things they have or can do. But the only true measure of a person is whether or not they have faith in Christ. And if this is not the case, then the first thing we must ask ourselves is, “What can I do to share the Gospel with that person?”
James 2:1-5
1 My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
GOSPEL
Here is one of the concrete examples of not just how Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament, but how He is not governed by the external appearances of a person and looks within to see their innate dignity and acts upon that vision. Let us all follow the example of Jesus and never judge a person unfairly by looking at their human dignity and greatness, having been created in the image and likeness of God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.
Mark 7:31-37
31 Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. 32 And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; 34 then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” – that is, “Be opened!” – 35 And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. 36 He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. 37 They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
1st READING 2nd READING
GOSPEL PSALM
TODAY’S
BLESSING
LIST
think: There are no ”classes of people” in the Kingdom of God.NG
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 81-85
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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LIST
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