I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me - Daily Bible Readings February 26,2014

1^ST READING

 

 

What really matters in life? Is it the amount of money we hope to make in a lifetime? Is it the acclaim of the world regarding how brilliant we are at a particular sport or intellectual pursuit? Is it whether or not we gain eternal life? The former things are for this world only — we cannot take any of it with us when we die. Eternal life is forever. This is what James reminds us of in the reading today. He is not saying that we should not work hard at our jobs but he is encouraging us to keep things in their proper perspective.

 

James 4:13-17

13 Beloved: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit — 14 you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. 15 Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.” 16 But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 49:2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11

R: Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

1 [2] Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all who dwell in the world, 2 [3] of lowly birth or high degree, rich and poor alike. (R) 5 [6] Why should I fear in evil days when my wicked ensnarers ring me round? 6 [7] They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast. (R) 7 [8] Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; 8 [9] too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough 9 [10] to remain alive always and not see destruction. (R) 10 [11] For he can see that wise men die, and likewise the senseless and the stupid pass away, leaving to others their wealth. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is not worried about competition if it is about the truth. If someone is truly working for the Kingdom of God, we should help them and not hinder them, even if we may not totally agree with them in every aspect of doctrine and belief. If the basis is there for a healthy relationship, it does not matter that the relationship is not yet perfect.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

 

Mark 9:38-40

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” think: If someone is truly working for the Kingdom of God, we should help them and not hinder them. 39 Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.”

 

think: If someone is truly working for the Kingdom of God, we should help them and not hinder them

 

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 Titus and Philemon