Daily Bible Readings - January 31, 2012

1^st READING

 

David is alone is his desire to spare the life of his son, Absalom. Yet, beyond David’s control, Absalom dies. David mourns the death of his son and his powerlessness to alter this outcome. We should reflect upon David’s mourning and pray for the grace to be as merciful as he was to his enemy (in war). Yes, David’s enemy is his son, but that fact should not weaken our resolve to act mercifully and desire the best for those who oppose us. The law of love is greater than any opposition someone can give to our projects. Let us seek always to find the path that will lead to greater love and never to greater hostility.

 

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3

9 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants. He was mounted on a mule, and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth, his hair caught fast in the tree. He hung between heaven and earth while the mule he had been riding ran off. 10 Someone saw this and reported to Joab that he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth. 14 And taking three pikes in hand, he thrust for the heart of Absalom, still  hanging from the tree alive. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and a lookout mounted to the roof of the gate above the city wall, where he looked about and saw a man running all alone. 25 The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said, “If he is alone, he has good news to report.” 30 The king said, “Step aside and remain in attendance here.” So he stepped aside and remained there. 31 When the Cushite messenger came in, he said, “Let my Lord the king receive the good news that this day the Lord has taken your part, freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you.” 32 But the king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my Lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!” 19: 1 The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom; 3 and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Listen, Lord, and answer me.

1 Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. 2 Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. 3 You are my God. (R) Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; (R) 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Faith is the answer to all our questions and problems in life … at least in one respect, namely that of our relationship with God. Yes, there are times when we have to be practical and do what is necessary to bring about a certain result, but ultimately the thing that matters most is our relationship with God. This is governed by faith – by what God has already done, is doing and will do in our lives, not what we can achieve. Let us pray for the simple faith of the woman with a hemorrhage and Jairus as we seek to grow in the way of a disciple of Jesus.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

 

Mark 5:21-43

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” 24 He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. 25 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. 28 She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” 31 But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” 35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 36 Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” 37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. 41 He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

LIST

think: Faith is the answer to all our questions and problems in life.

 

 

 

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 Acts 9-12

 

Daily Bible Readings - January 30, 2012

1^st READING

 

David has problems within his house. This is probably something we have all experienced at one time or another – being let down by those who are closest to us. Read the next few chapters and examine David’s response. He does not seek the blood of his son but his conversion. This is the attitude we must learn for our own lives — peace, not war, will ultimately prevail. We will be far more powerful and successful in what we seek to achieve for the Kingdom of God if we do it together with others and not in spite of or against them.

 

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)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus has already demonstrated He has power over sickness. He now shows us that the devil is under His power as well. We are all followers of Christ; where He goes, we go, too. This means that He has given us authority to reject the advances of the devil and his minions and live without their influence. Let us pray for the grace to do this – to humbly accept the victory Christ offers us over sin and to live in it all the days of our lives.

 

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 Jesus, 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 he 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: Let us pray for the grace to humbly accept the victory Christ offers us over sin and live in it all the days of 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 Acts 5-8

 

 

Daily Bible Readings - January 29, 2012

1^st READING

It is not easy to be a prophet. Most of them suffered greatly at the hands of those to whom they were sent by God. Prophets will also be held to a higher accountability because they have been especially blessed in hearing God’s Word; they now have a responsibility to share it with others. Let us pray for the prophets of our time that they will be faithful in proclaiming God’s truth to us and that we will be faithful in responding.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

15 Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. 16 This is exactly what you requested of the Lord, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the Lord, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘This was well said. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. 19 Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. 20 But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

P S A L M

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalm to him. (R) 6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. (R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (R)

2^ND READING

It is not so much a matter of whether we are married or not. What matters is how faithful we are to living and proclaiming God’s Word as He calls us to do it. Let us always seek to make ourselves available to serve the Gospel whenever we can so that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to hear the Good News of salvation and respond to it.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

32 Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

GOSPEL

Some people think they can emphasize a point by saying it louder or by giving better arguments in favor of a certain conclusion. We all know that the best way to present a truth is to live it in our lives. The lived witness of the Gospel is what the world needs most; it is this that gives the Church any authority it has. Let us make sure that we always provide faithful witness to the truth of the Gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.

Mark 1:21-28

21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus 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.

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

LIST

think: The best way to present a truth is to live it in 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 Acts 1-4

SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

John 19-21

2nd READING

PSALM

TODAY’S

Daily Bible Readings - January 28, 2012

1^st READING

 

David is inspired by the story of Nathan to repent of his sin in having Uriah the Hittite murdered. It is important for us to remember that there is always a remedy for sin. God gives us a way out of our sinfulness through repentance and His forgiveness. However, this does not mean that we should be slack in avoiding sin. Just because there is a way out of the hole does not mean that we should allow ourselves to fall into it. We might break our leg or cause unnecessary harm to ourselves or others if we do this.

 

2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17

1 The Lord sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. 4 Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.” 5 David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death! 6 He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 10 ‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14 But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The Lord struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

 

P S A L M 1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.

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) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 13 [15] I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) 14 [16] Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

There will be numerous storms in our lives as we follow Jesus. This does not mean He has abandoned us, just that the path of righteousness has its difficult moments. We will never be able to fully understand the wisdom of God. One of the greatest theologians of all time, St. Thomas Aquinas, whose feast it is today, was reported to have regarded all his writings and theology as “straw” in comparison to knowing the gift of salvation. That is, holiness is not dependent upon how smart we are but how willing we are to surrender our lives to the Gospel.

 

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?” READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

BLESSING

think: Holiness is not dependent upon how smart we are but how willing we are to surrender our lives to the Gospel.

 

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 John 19-21

 

John 19-21

Daily Bible Readings - January 27, 2012

1st READING   This is the worst moment in David’s life. He has a man murdered so that he can take his wife. This is total abuse of his power as a result of giving in to lust. It is important to remember that while we may not have murdered anyone, we are probably all guilty of having given in to disordered passion. David had greater power available to him than us to fulfill his passion. Sometimes it is a blessing to be weak and powerless to fulfill a disordered desire.   2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17 1 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. 3 David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. 5 But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” 6 David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. 8 David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his Lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. 13 On the day following, David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed among his Lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” 16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. 17 When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.   P S A L M   Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 10-11 R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 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) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. 5 [7] True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. (R) 8 [10] Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed shall rejoice. 9 [11] Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. (R)   GOSPEL   Yes, it is God who gives the increase in any work we undertake for Him. We can never take the credit for ourselves; it always belongs to Him. Today is the Feast of St. Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline teaching order. It always amazes me when I read the history of religious orders how they grow into something far greater than the founder ever intended. This is the principle we see here in the Gospel. If we leave the growth up to God and surrender all to His will, then anything is possible.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.   Mark 4:26-34 26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. 1st READING 2nd READING GOSPEL PSALM think: If we leave the growth up to God and surrender all to His will, then anything is possible.   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 John 16-18   John 19-21

Daily Bible Readings - January 26, 2012

1^st READING

 

Timothy and Titus have been raised up by Paul to lead the Churches in Crete and Ephesus. Paul no longer believes that he will see the Second Coming and thus realizes that it is important to establish the institution of the Church to carry on the work of pastoral care and evangelization. As the years passed by, this seminal structure developed into what we have today. We trust that the Holy Spirit guided this growth and pray that those who lead us today will be always inspired by and surrendered to the same Holy Spirit.

 

2 Timothy 1:1-8 (or Titus 1:1-5)

1 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. 4 I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, 5 as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 10

R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. 2 Sing to the Lord; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day. 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) 7 Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord glory and praise; 8 give to the Lord the glory due his name! (R) 10 Say among the nations: The Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Again we are called to reflect upon the lives of two saints who gave their all for the work of the Kingdom of God. I find these men (and women), particularly those of the Early Church, extremely inspiring as they make their choices to follow Christ. This sort of commitment is rare today and thus very inspiring. Let us pray for the grace to be fully inspired to sacrifice all for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

 

Luke 10:1-9 (or Mark 4:21-25)

1 The Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: Let us pray for the grace to be fully inspired to sacrifice all for the sake of 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 John 13-15

Daily Bible Readings - January 25, 2012

1st READING

Paul’s conversion is an inspiration for many. How could a man as convinced as he was of the rightness of his chosen path, been turned around so dramatically to take the opposite direction? The simple answer is, the truth of the Gospel. Truth, if we open our hearts and minds to it, can inspire virtually anything. Paul discovered this in a way that would change not only his own life but the lives of thousands of others as well.

Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)
3 Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. 5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. 6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ 9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ 11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. 12 “A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; 15 for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. 16 Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’”

P S A L M

Psalm 117:1, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus sends out His Apostles to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel to all men and women. Paul is a wonderful example of a man who took this call literally and did everything he could to respond to it. His life is truly an inspiration to all who want to be evangelists. It is important for us to remember that, for Paul, the Gospel is the key to transformation; the Gospel is the truth of our salvation. We should make sure that the essence of the Gospel is never neglected in the Word we proclaim.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

Mark 16:15-18
15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
LIST
think: Just like Paul and the other Apostles, Jesus sends us to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel to all men and women.

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 John 10-12

Daily Bible Readings - January 24, 2012

1st READING

David is not ashamed to sing and dance before the presence of God in the Ark of the Covenant. His joy is something we do well to reflect upon as it indicates the joy we should have in our hearts at the gift of salvation offered to us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Where is the joy in our hearts and lives at this moment? If it is not there we need to ask ourselves where it is, and then go and get it!

2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19
12 David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities. 13 As soon as the bearers of the ark of the Lord had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon, 15 as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn. 17 The ark of the Lord was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.

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.

GOSPEL

This is an important truth – it is those who hear the Word of God and obey it that please God. Today is the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, a great apologist and evangelist for the Church at around the time of the Reformation, whose life reflected this truth in a wonderful way. He spent much time sitting and talking with the influential people of his time, convincing them to remain faithful to the Church. He wrote much about the love of God and inspired many through his life of love and service.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Mark 3:31-35
31 The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside they sent word to Jesus and called him. 32 A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” 33 But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
ADING 2nd READING
BLESSING
LIST
think: Those who hear the Word of God and obey it please 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 John 7-9

Daily Bible Readings - January 23, 2012

1st READING

It is evident that the people of Israel are aware of David’s character; they have seen it in the way that he has conducted himself in battle – in the service of nation and king. They are united in their acclaim that he succeeds Saul. This is why it is important that we live unimpeachable lives. They will demonstrate to others the truth of the Gospel to which we have committed ourselves, and by virtue of this, call others to surrender to the Gospel.

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10
1 All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh. 2 In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the children of Israel out and brought them back. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’ ” 3 When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the Lord, and they anointed him king of Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years: 5 seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah. 6 Then the king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, “You cannot enter here: the blind and the lame will drive you away!” which was their way of saying, “David cannot enter here.” 7 But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. 10 David grew steadily more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

P S A L M

Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 25-26
R: My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.
19 [20] Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] That my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.” (R) 24 [25] My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 [26] I will set his hand upon the sea, his right hand upon the rivers.” (R)

GOSPEL

We are in a battle with Satan. But we do not have to fear defeat as Jesus has already won the battle. This is one of the most important truths we have to learn to live in our lives; it is the secret to overcoming sin, namely that the battle is already won. What we have to realize is that we do not have to overcome Satan in our own strength – Jesus has done it for us. Let us reflect upon this truth until it is seared into our minds and hearts.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Mark 3:22-30
22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” 23 Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. 28 Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” 30 For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

LIST
think: We are in the battle with Satan. But we do not have to fear defeat as Jesus has already won the battle.


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 John 4-6