God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation - Daily Bible Readings July 2,2015

1ST READING   Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is something to think about. He is obedient to the Word of God, but surely God cannot be serious? At that time, human sacrifice was a common practice. Some societies practiced it after the birth of Christ until our own time. Abortion can even be considered a form of sacrifice to the god of convenience and comfort. Maybe it is not so difficult to understand Abraham’s willingness to follow God’s command after all.   Genesis 22:1-19 1 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering on a height that I will point out to you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well, and with the wood that he had cut for the burnt offering, set out for the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar. 5 Then he said to his servants: “Both of you stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over yonder. We will worship and then come back to you.” 6 Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. 7 As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father!” he said. “Yes, son,” he replied. Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “Son,” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the sheep for the burnt offering.” Then the two continued going forward. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. 10 Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the Lord’s messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 12 “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” 13 As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh; hence people now say, “On the mountain the Lord will see.” 15 Again the Lord’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven 16 and said: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, 17 I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, 18 and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing — all this because you obeyed my command.” 19 Abraham then returned to his servants, and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham made his home.   P S A L M   Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 R: I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living. 1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory because of your kindness, because of your truth. 2 Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?” (R) 3 Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. (R) 5 They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; 6 They have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. (R) 8 Their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them. 9 The house of Israel trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. (R)   GOSPEL   Jesus forgave the paralytic. But when His authority to forgive sins was challenged, Jesus healed the man’s physical disability. The people were aghast — Jesus forgave sins and had the power to heal a physical disability. This is beyond their and our comprehension. However, as we reflect upon these actions in the light of Jesus’ proclamation of the Gospel, it makes sense. Jesus forgives and heals.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.   Matthew 9:1-8 1 After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. 2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” 3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, andgo home.” 7 He rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.   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 Chronicles 11-12