1ST READING
Faith in God is what has characterized the great figures of
salvation history. Faith makes a big difference to our lives. As we allow our
faith to speak to the world through the decisions we make, we need to draw
strength from those who have gone before us. This is what the author of this
letter is encouraging the Christians of his time to do. The lives of saints are
a great source of inspiration – better than any secular witness can offer.
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
1 Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization
of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was
to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in
a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same
promise; 10 for he was looking forward to the city with
foundations, whose architect and maker is God. 11 By faith he received
power to generate, even though he was past the normal age — and Sarah herself
was sterile — for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy. 12 So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as
countless as the sands on the seashore. 13 All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, 14 for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a
better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called
their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when
put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was
ready to offer his only son, 18 of whom it was said, Through Isaac descendants
shall bear your name. 19 He reasoned that God was able to raise even from
the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
P S A L M
Luke 1:69, 70-72, 73-75
R: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
69 He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of
the house of his servant David. (R) 70 Through his holy prophets he promised of old. 71 that he would save us from our sins from the hand of all who hate
us. 72 He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to
remember his holy covenant. (R) 73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to set us free from the bond of our enemies, free to worship him
without fear, 75 holy and righteous in his sight all the days of
our life. (R)
GOSPEL
Saint John Bosco, whose feast we celebrate today, came to know his
vocation as a young boy. He invited friends and other young boys to listen to
his stories from the Scriptures. He drew these boys to him by his athletic prowess
and magic skills. He encouraged them to grow in their faith before entertaining
them. We need to learn how to draw people to the Lord in spite of today’s
difficult environment. We need to attract them to the Gospel message through
our lives. Let us pray for inspiration on how to do this.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that
everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to
his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they
took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.
37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking
over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and
said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be
still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have
faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one
another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
think: Let us pray for
inspiration on how to attract people to the Gospel message through our lives.
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 Romans 5-8
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