A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people - Daily Bible Readings September 2,2014

1^ST READING

 

Paul tells us that we can have the mind of Christ if we surrender everything to God. When I reflect upon the state of the world it is difficult not to get depressed by the seeming faithlessness of this generation. However, despair has no part in the Kingdom of God. Despair is never going to help the Gospel move forward — it is the great paralyzer of the Spirit.

 

1 Corinthians 2:10-16

10 Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. 11 Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except the spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms. 14 Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. 15 The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14

R: The Lord is just in all his ways.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus can command demons and they obey Him, not because He is sinless but because He firmly believes that He has been given such authority by His Father in heaven. The Good News is that we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit as well. We, too, can banish the devil from our lives but only if we believe in faith that this is so. This is why it is important to get to know the Word of God by reading and reflecting on it. It tells us the truth of who we are and outlines for us the gifts God has given us.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

 

Luke 4:31-37

31 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, 34 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

 

think:  It is important to get to know the Word of God by reading and reflecting on it. It tells us the truth of who we are and outlines for us the gifts God has

given us.

 

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 Psalm 41-45