Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father - Daily Bible Readings September 23,2013

1^ST READING

 

Ezra lives at a time when the people of Israel are allowed to return from exile in Babylon. He wants them to concentrate on building up Jerusalem and the Temple rather than be merely concerned about their own houses. Many of the Jews refuse to leave Babylon as they have established themselves there with lucrative businesses. This dispersion of the Jews will be very helpful when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel in about 500 years’ time.

 

Ezra 1:1-6

1In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! 4 Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’” 5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites — everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so — prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R: The Lord has done marvels for us.

1 When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. 5 Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) 6 Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Padre Pio is a great example of a person who allowed his light to shine. As a holy man, a healer and mystic, he has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of devotees that built shrines in his memory. Let us not lose sight of Jesus in the midst of our devotions. It is Jesus who is the source of all grace. It is only through Him — faith in Him — that we can be saved.

 

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

 

Luke 8:16-18

16 Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

LIST

think:  Let us not lose sight of Jesus in our devotions.

 

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

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 Ezekiel 21-24