Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit - Daily Bible Readings February 19,2016

1^ST READING

 

The choices we make can start out well but end in disaster. On the other hand, we can begin badly and triumph in the end. But it is best if we both start well and finish well. This should be the goal of a disciple of Jesus. Let us be true to God’s calling and open our hearts to His will. Let us pray for an obedient spirit so that we will not stray far from His path.

 

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? 24 And 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 which 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

 

 

To be a disciple of Jesus means we must be ready to lay down our lives for the Kingdom of God. This isn’t easy, but the saints have done it. Whatever suffering we havein this life will be nothing compared to the reward of spending eternity with Jesus. Do you believe this?

 

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. 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. 26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

 

think: To be a disciple of Jesus means we must be ready to lay down our lives for the Kingdom of God.

 

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 Thessalonians 1-3

 

A clean heart create for me, God; give me back the joy of your salvation - Daily Bible Readings February 18,2016

1ST READING   Esther is a woman of action. She is scared to come before the king, her husband, as he might lose his temper and order to have her killed. But she cannot stand idle and watch the unjust slaughter of her own people. She runs the gauntlet of the king’s temper and prevails. God is with us when we do His will.   Esther:12, 14-16, 23-25 [12] Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. [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, [15] for I am taking my life in my hand. [16] As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God. [23] And now, come to help me, an orphan. [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. [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   Jesus encourages us to persevere in prayer. It is easy to give up on a goal when we know it will be difficult to achieve it. There are people who face adversity head on and are energized by the challenge. We must never give up — we are disciples of Jesus and we can be sure that God will never give up on us.   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: Jesus encourages us to persevere in prayer.   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 1 Thesalonians 1-5

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful - Daily Bible Readings February 17,2016

1^ST READING 

 

The story of Jonah is one of the Old Testament favorites. Imagine the scene where a whale spews up Jonah on a beach. Yet we also need to reflect on the response of the people of Nineveh to his preaching. They repent and are spared from destruction. Let us also know and experience the freedom that comes from repentance.

 

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. 6When 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

Why do we need signs when following the Lord’s call for us? We should trust the Word of God. After all, He is God and desires the best for us. Maybe there will be times when we will be unsure of the next step. May we follow His will without finding excuses to act upon it. Delayed obedience is equal to disobedience.

 

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: Why do we need signs when following the Lord’s call for us?

 

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 Collosians 1-4

 

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance - Daily Bible Readings February 5,2016

1ST READING   This eulogy to David’s greatness reminds us that the Jews continue to regard him highly until today. As we look at the current precarious state of Israel, it is helpful to look back to Jewish history and try to understand why the Jews decide the way they do about certain issues. We are free to argue the rightness or wrongness of their stand but let us also strive to know why.   Sirach 47:2-11 2 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was David in Israel. 3He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock. 4 As a youth he slew the giant and wiped out the people’s disgrace, when his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath. 5 Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm to defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people, 6 therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands and praised him when they blessed the Lord. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled 7 and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. 8 With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung. He set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies. 9 He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year 10 so that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. 11 The Lord forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; he conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel.   P S A L M   Psalm 18: 31, 47, 50, 51 R: Blessed be God my salvation! 30 [31] God’s way is unerring, the promise of the Lord is fire-tried; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him. (R) 46 [47] The Lord live! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. 49 [50] Therefore will I proclaim you, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praise to your name. (R) 50 [51] You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever. (R)   GOSPEL   John the Baptist died because he was unafraid to preach the truth even to the most powerful men in the land. This is what we need today – leaders with integrity. Without integrity, the Gospel will lose its power and capacity to convert. Let us ask God for the grace to be uncompromising in the way we witness to the truth of our salvation.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.   Mark 6:14-29 14 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” 17 Herod was the one who had John  arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23 He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.   think: This is what we need today – leaders with integrity.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________    READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Corinthians 1-4

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel - Daily Bible Readings February 4,2016

1^ST READING

 

David advises Solomon to encourage his sons to walk in the ways of the Lord. This can be a problem with leadership that is inherited. The next leader gets the job because he is next in line and does not undergo any test. Let us pray for our leaders. It is difficult to pastor a large number of people because of their different needs and requirements.

 

1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

1 When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: 2 “I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. 3 Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, 4 and the Lord may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, ‘If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.’” 10 David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David, with his sovereignty firmly established.

 

P S A L M

 

1 Chronicles 29:10, 11, 11-12, 12

R: Lord, you are exalted over all.

10 “Blessed may you be, O Lord, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.” (R) 11 “Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory.” (R) “Lord, you are exalted over all. Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Riches and honor are from you.” (R) “In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus seems to be telling His disciples not to waste their time with people who refuse to believe in the Gospel. This is called triage — we decide how to spend our time and resources wisely. If we are not getting anywhere with a group of people, it may come to a point where we should “cut our losses” and leave. Then we can spend more time working with those who want to hear and respond to the Good News.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. 100

 

Mark 6:7-13

7 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick — no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. 11 Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” 12 So they went off and preached repentance. 13 The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

think: Let us pray for our leaders. It is difficult to pastor a large number of people because of their different needs and requirements.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Romans 13-16

 

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me - Daily Bible Readings February 3,2016

1ST READING   David’s sin is that he trusted in his own strength rather than the Word of God. He sincerely repented and chose the punishment that made him fall into the hands of the Lord. David knows that God is merciful and loving, and for him it is much better to fall into God’s hands rather than those of his enemies.   2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 2 King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, “Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number.” 9 Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered: in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand. 10 Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the Lord: “I have sinned grievously in what I have done. But now, Lord, forgive the guilt of your servant, for I have been very foolish.” 11 When David rose in the morning, the Lord had spoken to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying: 12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I offer you three alternatives; choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.’” 13 Gad then went to David to inform him. He asked: “Do you want a three years’ famine to come upon your land, or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you, or to have a three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.” 14 David answered Gad: “I am in very serious difficulty. Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man.” 15 Thus David chose the pestilence. Now it was the time of the wheat harvest when the plague broke out among the people. The Lord then sent a pestilence over Israel from morning until the time appointed, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died. 16 But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, “Enough now! Stay your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the Lord: “It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred.”   P S A L M   Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 6, 7 R: Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. 1 Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. (R) 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. (R) 6 For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. (R) 7 You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. (R)   GOSPEL   The people who know Jesus when He was just a boy marvel led at His wisdom and capacity to perform miracles. Even with this evidence, they still refused to believe that He is the Son of God. Sometimes the hardest people to convince about the Gospel are those who know us best. That was the challenge all prophets had to face. Let us pray for the grace to never give up sharing the Gospel to those we love the most.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.   Mark 6:1-6 1 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 3 Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.   think: Let us pray for the grace to never give up sharing the Gospel to those we love the most.   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 9-12

A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel - Daily Bible Readings February 2,2016

1ST READING     We need to be purified before entering God’s Kingdom. We have sinned and became separated from God. We must be cleansed and refined before we can be welcomed fully into God’s presence. Jesus redeemed us through His death and resurrection. We must submit ourselves to a life of discipleship and receive grace and mercy from Jesus’ victory on the cross.   Malachi 3:1-4 1 Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. 3 He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. 4 Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in days of old, as in years gone by.   P S A L M   Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10 R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! 7 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 8 Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. (R) 9 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 10 Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory. (R)     2ND READING   Jesus takes on our humanity to fully identify with us. He knows and has experienced what it means to live “in the flesh.” This is the way He can know our struggle against sin and temptation, although He resists and remains sinless. Even as “one of us,” He has the power to redeem us through His divinity. In Christ alone do humanity and divinity meet in one person. Jesus is both fully man and fully God.   Hebrews 2: 14-18 14 Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.   GOSPEL   Jesus is presented at the Temple as required by the Law. Jesus does not abolish the Jewish faith but instead fulfills it in His own life. He reinterprets it according to His own life. His self-sacrificing love becomes the key in our understanding of the Law. “If we are without love, we are nothing but empty resounding gongs,” says St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians. Let us always read the Word of God through the witness of love we have in Jesus Christ.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.   Luke 2:22-40 22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, 24and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted 35 — and you yourself a sword will pierce — so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. think: We all need to be purified before entering God’s kingdom.     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 1-4

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people - Daily Bible Readings February 1,2016

1^ST READING

 

It is not easy to be a leader. Not all people will be satisfied with the way you lead. As the old saying goes, “You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.” Let us pray for our leaders to have a listening ear and patience as they guide us in the ways of God.

 

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

13 An informant came to David with the report, “The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.” 14 At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: “Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.” 30 As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went. 16:5 As David was approaching Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera of the same clan as Saul’s family, was coming out of the place, cursing as he came. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the king’s officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David’s right and on his left. 7 Shimei was saying as he cursed: “Away, away, you murderous and wicked man! 8 The Lord has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the Lord has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.” 9 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and lop off his head.” 10 But the king replied: “What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’ ” 11 Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: “If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.” 13 David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, rise up and save me.

1 [2] O Lord, how many are my adversaries! Many rise up against me! 2 [3] Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” (R) 3 [4] But you, O Lord, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head! 4 [5] When I call out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy mountain. (R) 5 [6] When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. 6 [7] I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL1

 

Demonic possession is not that common, though cases have begun to rise with the entry of the New Age movement. We need to look at the spiritual side of the programs we get involved in to make sure that they have a Christian basis and are anointed by the Holy Spirit. Everything we do does not have to be explicitly Christian, but we also need to protect ourselves from spirits that are unchristian.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

Mark 5:1-20

1 Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. 2 When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. 3 The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. 4 In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, 7 crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” 8 (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) 9 He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” 10 And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. 12 And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” 13 And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. 14 The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. 15 As they approached 9Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. 16 Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. 17 Then they began to beg him to leave their district. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. 19 But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” 20 Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

 

think: We need to look at the spiritual side of programs we get involved in to make sure that they have a Christian basis and are anointed by the Holy Spirit.

 

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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