Righteousness is not just about obedience to the letter of the law but about fulfilling the spirit of the law - Daily Bible Readings February 27,2015

1^ST READING

The mercy of God is truly amazing. Everything that He calls us to do, such as forgiving the sins of others against us, He has already done with us. This gives us confidence that it is possible for us to do the same. Jesus has showed us the way and it is now up to us to follow His example. This is what it means to appropriate the grace of salvation that God gives us – to become a beacon of faith for others.

Ezekiel 18:21-28

21 Thus says the Lord God: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. 23 Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?” says the Lord God. “Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? 24And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. 25 You say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair!’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

P S A L M

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 7-8

R: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. 7 Let Israel wait for the Lord. (R) For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; 8 and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. (R)

GOSPEL

Righteousness is not just about obedience to the letter of the law but about fulfilling the spirit of the law. It is the way to salvation and lasting conversion. Are we committed to live it? Christian discipleship is always a challenge, especially in our pluralistic society where there is not much support given to those who want to live a righteous life. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Matthew 5:20-26

20 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.  26Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

think: Righteousness is not just about obedience to the letter of the law but about fulfilling the spirit of the law.

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 2 Peter 1-3

A clean heart create for me, God; give me back the joy of your salvation - Daily Bible Readings February 26,2015

1^ST READING

Esther realizes she is the last hope of her people. She is the only one who can intercede on behalf of the Israelites before the king. She is the queen but the king does not tolerate people who plead with him. However, Esther dares to do this out of love for God, her faith and her people. We need her belief and courage to be successful disciples of Jesus. Are we willing to bring our concerns into God’s throne room, or do we not have enough belief in ourselves?

Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25

28[C:12] Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. 30[C:14] She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 31[C:15] for I am taking my life in my hand. 32[C:16] As a child I used to hear from the books my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. 39[C:23] Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God. And now, come to help me, an orphan. 40[C:24] Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. 41[C:25] Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”

P S A L M

Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8

R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 7 Your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)

GOSPEL

Aside from confidence in God’s love for us, we also need strength to persevere in what we believe so that we are not discouraged by the obstacles that confront us as we follow God’s will. Confidence and perseverance are essential characteristics of any saint’s life. Let us pray that we may join their ranks as we live out our calling.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A clean heart create for me, God; give me back the joy of your salvation.

Matthew 7:7-12

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

think: Are we willing to bring our concerns into God’s throne room, or do we not have enough belief in ourselves?

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 1 Peter 1-5

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful - Daily Bible Readings February 25,2015

1^ST READING

Jonah eventually obeys God and does what is asked of him. The result is the repentance of Nineveh. But Jonah is not happy. This means that God will relent on His threat to destroy Nineveh and he, Jonah, will look foolish. Let us never allow the opinion of others to hinder our commitment to proclaim and live the Gospel. What matters is that we do all that God asks us to do.

Jonah 3:1-10

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” 3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” 5 when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. 7 Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 8 Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. 9 Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” 10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

P S A L M

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

1[3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2[4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 10[12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11[13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 16[18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17[19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

GOSPEL

We are all given opportunities to repent. What will make the difference in our lives is whether we take them up or not. This will define our character. This is the challenge of the moral life — realizing that our choices do matter. We have to be attentive to themovement of grace in our lives and cooperate with it each time we make a moral choice.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.

Luke 11:29-32

29 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. 30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. 32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

think: What matters is that we do all that God asks us to do.

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 James 1-5