The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel - Daily Bible Readings January 13,2014

1^ST READING

 

Fertility and infertility are strong images in any religious setting. The former is seen as a sign of blessing from God and the latter a curse. This is at the heart of Hannah’s unhappiness — she sees herself as rejected by God due to her inability to bear a child. We now know that there are many ways in which a person’s fertility can be adversely affected and, thus, do not attribute the same religious significance to it.

 

1 Samuel 1:1-8

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 3 This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city to worship the Lord of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ministering as priests of the Lord. 4 When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5 but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the Lord had made her barren. 6 Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her that the Lord had left her barren. 7 This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

 

P S A L M

Psalm 116:12-13, 14-16, 18-19

R: To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 14 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

What does it mean to be a fisher of men? I believe that this is everyone’s calling in varying degrees. It is not necessarily about going out there and reeling in conversions for the Church but living our lives faithfully and allowing our faith experiences to be used by God to inspire others to follow His call as well.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.

 

Mark 1:14-20

14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: 15“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they left their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

 

think:  To be fishers of men is about living our lives faithfully and witnessing to others.

John 16-18

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 John 16-18