1ST READING
These
images of destruction are meant to convey the importance of following
the Law of God. I do not believe that God is going to strike down and
kill anyone who does not follow Him, but I do believe that choosing not
to be obedient to God’s Word will put us in a position that’s outside
the full protective cover of His mercy and love. Simply stated, if we do
not follow God’s will, we place our eternal salvation in grave
jeopardy.
Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22
1 The Lord cried loud for me to hear: Come, you scourges of the city! 2 With
that I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate which
faces the north, each with a destroying weapon in his hand. In their
midst was a man dressed in linen, with a writer’s case at his waist.
They entered and stood beside the bronze altar. 3 Then he called to the man dressed in linen with the writer’s case at his waist, 4 saying to him: Pass through the city, through
Jerusalem, and mark a “Thau” on the foreheads of those who moan and
groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it. 5 To the others I heard the Lord say: Pass through the city after him and strike! Do not look on them with pity nor show any mercy! 6 Old men, youths and maidens, women and children — wipe them out! But do not touch any marked with the “Thau”; begin at my sanctuary. So they began
with the men, the elders, who were in front of the temple. 7 Defile the temple, he said to them, and fill the courts with the slain; then go out and strike in the city. 10: 24 [18] Then the glory of the Lord left the threshold of the temple and rested upon the cherubim. 25 [19] These
lifted their wings, and I saw them rise from the earth, the wheels
rising along with them. They stood at the entrance of the eastern gate
of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was up above
them. 26 [11:22] Then
the cherubim lifted their wings, and the wheels went along with them,
while up above them was the glory of the God of Israel.
P S A L M
Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.
1 Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. (R) 3 From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised. (R) 4 High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory. (R) 5 Who is like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on
high, 6 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
outlines a process for discipline within the Christian community. It is
not the only way to protect the truth. It is essential, though, to have
the means to protect the purity of the Gospel. The process outlined
here is very simple and it will only exclude those who refuse to submit
to foundational truths of our faith. This is a highly reasonable process
to have in our faith communities.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Matthew 18:15-20
15 Jesus
said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell
him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have
won over your brother. 16 If
he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that
every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three
witnesses. 17 If
he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen
even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax
collector. 18 Amen,
I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again,
amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for
which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly
Father. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
think: It is essential to have the means to protect the purity of the Gospel.
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 2 Maccabees 11-12
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