1ST READING
Sit
down, read and reflect on the whole story of this amazing mother and
her sons. It is truly inspiring. While praying that our resolve and
faith will never be put to a similar test, let us also pray that we
develop the level of commitment to our faith that this family had.
Martyrdom is not for everyone, but all should live out a radical faith
commitment.
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
1 It
happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and
tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork
in violation of God’s law. 2 One
of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: “What do you expect to
achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress
the laws of our ancestors.” 9 At the point of death he said: “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present
life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying.” 10 After
him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once
when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands, 11 as
he spoke these noble words: “It was from Heaven that I received these;
for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them
again.” 12 Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s courage, because he regarded his
sufferings as nothing. 13 After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. 14 When
he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of men
with the hope God gives of being raised up by him; but for you, there
will be no resurrection to life.”
P S A L M
Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
R: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
1 Hear, O Lord, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. (R) 5 My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. (R) 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of
your wings. 15 But I in justice shall behold your face; on waking I shall be content in your presence. (R)
2ND READING
Paul
often prays for protection against the evil one when writing to the
communities he founded. Why? The answer to this question is that if the
devil can destroy the foundations of the community fellowship, then it
will be much easier for him to lead individuals astray as there will be
little encouragement and help coming from other members of the
community.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
16 Brothers
and sisters: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who
has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope
through his grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. 3: 1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.
GOSPEL
The
Sadducees are distracted from the issues that really matter, namely
their individual faith responses to God. Technical questions regarding
the law
are fine if they have a relevant basis on which they are derived.
However, theoretical cases for the sake of trying to trap someone are a
waste of time. How much time do you waste in pursuits similar to this,
time that you could be spending more profitably in the service of the
Gospel?
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; to him be glory and power, forever and ever.
Luke 20:27-38
27 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, 28 saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife
but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants
for his brother.’ 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. 30 Then the second 31 and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” 34 Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; 35 but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither
marry nor are given in marriage. 36 They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. 37 That
the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob; 38 and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
think: Martyrdom is not for everyone, but all should live out a radical faith commitment.
2nd READING
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 Psalm 36-40
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
________________________________________________________________
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