Daily Bible Readings - February 24, 2013

Second Sunday of Lent   1ST READING     The promises which God gives to Abraham, one of which is that he will have many descendants, will be the formative structure of the Jewish faith. They will guide and inform the aspirations of the people for millennia to follow. The Jews do not believe they have been fulfilled; we Christians see Jesus and His life and ministry as their fulfillment. As we go into the second week of our Lenten journey, let us be mindful of all that God has given us and be grateful for it.   Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 5 The Lord God took Abram outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” 6 Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. 7 He then said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” 8 “O Lord God,” he asked, “How am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. 11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. 12 As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. 17 When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. 18 It was on that occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”   P S A L M                                          Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 R: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 7 Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. 8 Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. (R) Your presence, O Lord, I seek. 9 Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)   2ND READING   St. Paul reminds the Philippians that heaven is our homeland — our pilgrimage on earth is a passing reality. It is important that we do not dismiss our earthly responsibilities to God, to one another and to creation, as they are all part of God’s plan. The choices we make determine our character and, thus, remain relevant, no matter where the focus of our lives may be. Let us remember that it is how we live that we will ultimately be judged, not how we wanted to live.   Philippians 3:17-4:1 17 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. 18 For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.   GOSPEL   In the Transfiguration, Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is affirmed by the Father. It is clear that the disciples struggle to understand the implications of this, which I suppose is understandable. Moses and Elijah’s appearance informs us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the two traditions they represent, the Law and the Spirit respectively. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. He is also the Son of God.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, hear him.   Luke 9:28-36 28 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. think: The choices we make determine our character and, thus, remain relevant, no matter where the focus of our lives may be.   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 1 Timothy 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   ________________________________________________________________  _________________________________________________________________