Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God - Daily Bible Readings January 13,2015

1^ST READING

   

Christ forsakes the glory of heaven for a time to be with us here on earth. Jesus knows that this is His Father’s will and entrusts this time and whatever goes with it to His will. We need to pray for the same level of surrender to the Father’s will that Jesus had. It is easy to obey the will of God when everything is going well; it is during difficult times, the times of suffering, that our faith will be tested. We need to strengthen our faith during the easy times so that we will have the courage to endure the difficult ones.

Hebrews 2:5-12

5 It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 Instead, someone has testified somewhere: What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, 8 subjecting all things under his feet. In “subjecting” all things to him, he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 9 but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

P S AL M

Psalm 8:2, 5, 6-7, 8-9

R: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

1 [2] O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! 4 [5] What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 5 [6] You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 [7] You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. (R) 7 [8] All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, 8 [9] the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus speaks with authority because He speaks the truth. When someone is not speaking the truth, it may still be attractive but that is where it ends – it will not be authoritative. The speaker will have to resort to all kinds of trickery and deceit to convince you to follow him. This is why the Gospel has power when it is lived and proclaimed. Thisis why the voices of terror in the world have to shout louder to be heard, as they are not speaking the truth.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

Mark 1:21-28

21 Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “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!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

think: The Gospel has power when it is lived and proclaimed.

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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