1ST READING
Paul uses Chapter 4 of his Letter to the Romans to explain the nature of faith as he understands it. At the heart of our faith are the promises that God has made to us regarding our salvation, and our part in it is to surrender to them in trust and to believe that God will do what He has promised. We cannot generate faith from within without the grace of God. Perhaps this is why faith is considered both a gift and a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 4:13, 16-18
13 Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. 16 For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.”
P S A L M
Psalm 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43
R: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations — 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R) 42 For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. 43 And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones. (R)
GOSPEL
Part of having faith is to be willing to stand up and say so. If we lack the conviction to stand by our faith, what use is it? We must be willing to give witness to the truths of God that we have received and, thus, proclaim the Good News to the world. It is not easy to stand against contrary beliefs and opinions, but either we are convinced we have come to the knowledge of the truth or not. If so, then we need to be ready to share these truths with others.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.
Luke 12:8-12
8 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
think: If we lack the conviction to stand by our faith, what use is it?
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 Zechariah 1-4
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