The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever - Daily Bible Readings July 30,2013

1^ST READING

 

A God of tenderness and compassion — what a beautiful description of the character of God. Let us spend some time with it throughout this day. Too often, we fail to stop and reflect on the meaning of our lives. Our lives will pass us by if we do not decide to give it meaning, which we can discover by reflecting on our experiences. Socrates realized this hundreds of years before Jesus — let us make sure we do not ignore this age-old wisdom.

 

Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28

7 The tent, which was called the meeting tent, Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp. Anyone who wished to consult the Lord would go to this meeting tent outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise and stand at the entrance of their own tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and worship at the   entrance of their own tents. 11 The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another. Moses would then return to the camp, but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, would not move out of the tent. 34: 5 Moses stood there with the Lord and proclaimed his name, “Lord.” 6 Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, 7 continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but punishing children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for their fathers’ wickedness!” 8 Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. 9 Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.” 28 So Moses stayed there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

 

P S A L M

Psalm 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R: The Lord is kind and merciful.

6 The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.

7 He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 9 He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. (R) 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. (R) 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

We will never be finished with temptation until the day we die. This is the nature of Satan — he does not know when to give up and admit that he has been defeated. It is important that we know how to approach our lives in this regard because if we try to handle temptation through our own strength, we will ultimately fail. If we decide to be a disciple of Jesus, we will always have the grace and strength to overcome all sin and temptation.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.

 

Matthew 13:36-43

36 Jesus dismissed the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

 

think:  We will never be finished with temptation until the day we die.

 

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 Esther 8-F

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls - Daily Bible Readings July 27,2013

1^ST READING

 

The “spilling” of blood in the Old Covenant helps us understand the nature of our commitment to God. It is not a joke to be committed to God. It is always a challenge and one that will always be an adventure as well. We should keep in mind that following God’s will is an exciting and challenging experience. It is something not to be missed; it is an experience that may change our lives forever.

 

Exodus 24:3-8

3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.” 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15

R: Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

1 God the Lord has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. (R) 5 “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. (R) 14“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; 15 Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Our lives are a mixture of weeds and wheat. None of us is perfect; none of us have removed all the sin from our lives. It is difficult to root out all the weeds. Have you ever tried to weed the newly sprouted seeds in a vegetable plot? If you have, then you will know what this parable is saying and you will realize what it means for pastoral ministry. Pastoral issues are always complicated and need to be approached carefully. Let us pray for the grace to do it well.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.                       

 

Matthew 13:24-30

24 Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

 

think:  Our lives are a mixture of weeds and wheat.

 

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 Judith13-16

They yearned for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested upon them - Daily Bible Readings July 26,2013

1^ST READING

 

Who are the heroes of faith that you look up to for inspiration? Now compare them with the present-day sporting, music and entertainment’s so-called heroes. Whose life is more inspiring? Who has had the greater influence in improving people’s lives?

 

Sirach 44:1, 10-15 (or Exodus 20:1-17)

1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: 10 These were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; 11 their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; 12 Through God’s covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. 13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; 14 Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. 15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise .

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18 (or Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11)

R: God will give him the throne of David, his father.

11 The Lord swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne. (R) 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. 14 “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.” (R) 17 “In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine.”

 

GOSPEL

 

It takes effort on our part to hear and see the words and works of God in our time. If we are not willing to pay the cost of discipleship, we will fail to reap its benefits. Ultimately, the cost is very little compared to the reward, which is eternal life! Our parents give us so much and expect very little in return. Let us be diligent in showing our gratitude to them.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

They yearned for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested upon them.

 

Matthew 13:16-17 (or Matthew 13:18-23)

16 Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

think:  The cost of discipleship is very little compared to the reward, which is eternal 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 Judith 9-12

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever - Daily Bible Readings July 24,2013

1ST READING   The Israelites experienced many trials on the journey to the Promised Land. In the same way, we will experience all sorts of trials and tribulations as we follow Jesus as His disciples. We will face many challenges and it will be much easier to face and deal with them with God at our side. This is what God assures the people in providing them miraculously with food.   Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 1 The children of Israel set out from Elim, and came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The children of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. 5 On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in, let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of the children of Israel: Present yourselves before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.” 10 When Aaron announced this to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, they turned toward the desert, and lo, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud! 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.” 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, 14 and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. 15 On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to e at.”    P S A L M   Psalm 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28 R: The Lord gave them bread from heaven. 18 They tempted God in their hearts by demanding the food they craved. 19 Yes, they spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the desert?” (R) 23 Yet he commanded the skies above and the doors of heaven he opened; 24 He rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread. (R) 25 Man ate the bread of angels, food he sent them in abundance. 26 He stirred up the east wind in the heavens, and by his power brought on the south wind. (R) 27 And he rained meat upon them like dust, and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl, 28 which fell in the midst of their camp round about their tents. (R)   GOSPEL   I don’t buy the idea of a “Prosperity Gospel” — a proclamation of the Gospel that promises that those who accept it will become rich in this life simply by believing in and following God’s will. I cannot find such an idea anywhere in the Scriptures and particularly not in the teaching of Jesus. The parable we have today is about the Kingdom of God and has nothing to do with gaining wealth in the world.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.   Matthew 13:1-9 1 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.” think:  We will face many challenges as we follow Jesus, but they will be much easier to face with God at our side.           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 Judith 1-4

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him - Daily Bible Readings July 23,2013

1^ST READING

 

The song that the Israelites sing is a song of victory and acclamation of the greatness of their God. Their deliverance from slavery in Egypt is indeed an event to remember. It will become a defining moment in their history that will contribute to the creation of a national character that, whether others like it or not, will continue to define them as a people.

 

Exodus 14:21-15:1

21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, 22 the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. 23 The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. 24 In the night watch just before dawn the Lord cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; 25 and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the Lord was fighting for them against the Egyptians. 26 Then the Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the Lord hurled them into its midst. 28 As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army that had followed the children of Israel into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. 29 But the children of Israel had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore 31 and beheld the great power that the Lord had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and believed in him and in his servant Moses. 15: 1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.”

 

P S A L M

 

Exodus 15:8-9, 10, 12, 17

R: Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory.

8 At the breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea. 9 The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” (R) 10 When your wind blew, the sea covered them; like lead they sank in the mighty waters. 12 When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them! (R) 17 And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance — the place where you made your seat, O Lord, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands established. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

This teaching of Jesus emphasizes the true nature of discipleship — obedience to the will of the Father. If we really want to reflect on something that will contribute to our growth in holiness, this is it — the heart of discipleship. Are you willing to submit your life to the will of God?

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.             

 

Matthew 12:46-50

46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” 48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

 

think:  Are you willing to submit your life to the will 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 Tobit 12-14

 

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts - Daily Bible Readings July 22,2013

1^ST READING

 

The stubbornness of Pharaoh is legendary. It is going to result in the destruction of his armies. Let us pray that we will avoid the sort of stubbornness that leads to destruction. The only stubbornness that is good is stubbornness in obeying God’s Word.

 

Exodus 14:5-18 (or Song of Songs 3:1-4 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

5 When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them. They exclaimed, “What have we done! Why, we have released Israel from our service!” 6 So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiers — 7 six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all. 8 So obstinate had the Lord made Pharaoh that he pursued the children of Israel even while they were marching away in triumph. 9 The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaoh’s whole army, his horses, chariots and charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the Lord. 11 And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? 12 Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” 13 But Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry land. 17 But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. 18 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.”

 

P S A L M

 

Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (or Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R: Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory.

1 I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. 2 My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him. (R) 3 The Lord is a warrior, Lord is his name! 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea; the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea. (R)’ 5 The flood waters covered them, they sank into the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power, your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy. (R)

 

 

 

GOSPEL

 

We should be careful about the importance that we give to signs. The greatest and probably the only necessary sign that we need has already been given — that Jesus has risen from the dead. Let us be satisfied with what God chooses to give us rather than spend our time looking for the spectacular to convince us of God’s love.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Matthew 12:38-42 (or John 20:1-2, 11-18)

38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. 42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”

 

think:  The only stubbornness that is good is stubbornness in obeying God’s Word.

 

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 Tobit 8-11

 

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me - Daily Bible Readings July 19,2013

1^ST READING

 

Moses and Aaron are given instructions on how to prepare themselves and the Israelites for what would be the defining event of their existence — the Passover. It is also an event that will provide much of the imagery we will use to describe our understanding of the Eucharist. Let us take the opportunity today to try and understand it from the Jewish perspective.

 

Exodus 11:10-12:14

10 Although Moses and Aaron performed these various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not

let the children of Israel leave his land. 12:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. 4 If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in proportion to the number of persons who partake of it. 5 The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. 7 They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. 8 That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 It shall not be eaten raw or boiled, but roasted whole, with its head and shanks and inner organs. 10 None of it must be kept beyond the next morning; whatever is left over in the morning shall be burned up. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the Lord. 12 For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first-born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt — I, the Lord! 13 But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. 14 This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

R: I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 17 To you will I offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

The cry of Jesus for mercy and not sacrifice ought to be at the heart of any understanding of pastoral care. What does it mean to minister to the People of God? There is no simple answer to this question; however, it is certain that God would want us to always think first about the welfare of those we minister to. Caring for people is always going to require a lot of mercy — that is, putting others’ needs before one’s own.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

 

Matthew 12:1-8

1 Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the  temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

 

think:  Caring for people is always going to require a lot of mercy — that is, putting others’ needs before one’s own.

 

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 Nehemia 10-13

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord - Daily Bible Readings July 18,2013

1^ST READING

 

Does YHWH mean “I am who am” or “I will be who will be?” We cannot really answer that question with certainty. With the vowel signs absent in the original texts, it is not possible to know which one it is. Perhaps it is best to take both meanings as they can equally describe the nature of God. Anyway, it is not really possible to describe the character and/or nature of God totally and accurately.

 

Exodus 3:13-20

13 Moses, hearing the voice of the Lord from the burning bush, said to him, “When I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” 14 God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel I AM sent me to you.” 15 God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. ‘This is my name forever; this is my title for all generations.’ 16 Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; 17 so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 Thus they will heed your message. Then you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word. Permit us, then, to go a three days’ journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the Lord, our God. 19 Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. 20 I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there. After that he will send you away.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27

R: The Lord remembers His covenant forever.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 5 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations, 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R) 24 He greatly increased his people and made them stronger than their foes, 25 whose hearts he changed, so that they hated his people, and dealt deceitfully with his servants. (R) 26 He sent Moses his servant; Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They wrought his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus affirms that He is there to help us on our way to His Kingdom. The “yoke” He is speaking of here is that of the law. The law is never going to be an easy thing to follow and obey; the challenges will never stop coming. These challenges will always call us further and deeper. Thus, Jesus invites us to remember that we can always call on Him for help. Let us be smart enough to avail of all that He offers us.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

 

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

 

think:  Jesus invites us to remember that we can always call on Him for help.

 

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 Nehemia 6-9