You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it - Daily Bible Readings June 29,2015

1ST READING   Peter was the first to minister to the Gentiles. Why? Luke wanted such a ministry to be endorsed by the accepted overall authority in the Early Church — Peter. Once Peter has sanctioned this ministry, then Paul will be able to continue it in the manner with which we are familiar. Luke wanted the developments in the ministry of the Church and its life to have a legitimate basis. Peter’s participation established this.   Acts 12:1-11 1In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. 2He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. — It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. — 4He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. 5Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 6On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. 7Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. 8The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. 11Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.   P S A L M   Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R: The Lord delivered me from all my fears. 1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)   2ND READING   Paul gives his entire life to the service of the Gospel. Let us do the same. Let us never tire of serving and persevere in the face of difficulties and trials. Let us stand by the truth of God’s love for all people and bring this truth to all men and women through the witness of our lives.   2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 6 I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 17 The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.     GOSPEL   The Church was built upon Peter’s imperfect faith. While Jesus is the foundation of the Church, it is through faith that we contribute to the work of the Church. We have our faults and failures, just like Peter did. However, God chose us, imperfect though we are, to manifest the truth of salvation to the world. Let us obey His will as best as we can.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.   Matthew 16:13-19 13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   think: Let us never tire of serving and persevere in the face of difficulties and trials.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 4-6

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases - Daily Bible Readings June 28,2015

1ST READING   Sarah doubted that she was going to give birth to a son. After all, she was beyond childbearing years. This was not a problem for God. Many of our problems are problems because we refuse to surrender them to the Lord. If we trust in the love of God, we will easily discover the solution to our difficulties. The problem will remain, but we will see how God wants us to address it.   Genesis 18:1-15 1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre, as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.2 Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, 3 he said: “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” The men replied “Very well, do as you have said.” 6 Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three measure of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” 7 He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate. 9 They asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.” 10 One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself and said, “Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?”13 But the Lord said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?’ 14 Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But he replied, “Yes you did.”   P S A L M   Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50, 53, 54-55 R: The Lord has remembered his mercy. 46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (R) 48 “For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: 49 the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” (R) 50 “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” (R) 54 “He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy,55 the promise he had made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” (R)   GOSPEL     None of us are worthy to stand in the presence of God on our own merits. We all stand under His judgment because of our sin. But God continued to love us and sent Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior. Unworthy as we are, God embraces us and calls us to Him so that He can heal and love us. Are we faithful to this calling?   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.   Matthew 8:5-17 5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven, 12 but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour his servant was healed. 14 Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him. 16 When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, 17to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.   think: Many of our problems are problems because we refuse to surrender them to the Lord.     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  Kings 27-29

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases - Daily Bible Readings June 26,2015

1ST READING   The covenants that have preceded the one God made with Abraham were more implicit than explicit. God made it clear that there are demands on both sides of the covenant. He was faithful to His promises to Abraham as He led him away from his homeland. God wanted to show Abraham that He provides everything he needs as he leaves his comfortable life behind.   Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: “I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless. 9 God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.” 15 God further said to Abraham: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.” 17 Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “Let but Ishmael live on by your favor!” 19 God replied: “Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I am heeding you: I hereby bless him. I will make him fertile and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make of him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with him, God departed from Abraham.   P S A L M   Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 R: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. 1 Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! 2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. (R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table. (R) 4 Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. 5 The Lord bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. (R) GOSPEL   Leprosy was a scourge in the time of Jesus. A person with leprosy was ostracized from society to prevent the disease from spreading to others. Leprosy is a great image for sin — we are all lepers because we have sinned and been separated from God. Jesus heals us from this leprosy, and so we are able to approach the Father again. Let us use the grace that God gives and set our lives right with Him.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.   Matthew 8:1-4 1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” 3 He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”   think: Let us use the grace that God gives and set our lives right with Him.   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  Chronicles 25-26

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him - Daily Bible Readings June 25,2015

1ST READING   To have a child through the maid of his wife was not part of God’s plan. Even Abraham did not trust God completely. He did as his wife had suggested. Is this an echo of the temptation in the Garden of Eden, where Adam gives in to the suggestion of Eve? God demonstrated His absolute power and brought forth a child from the barren womb of Sarah. This miracle encourages us to trust in God’s fidelity to His promises.   Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 1 Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram: “The Lord has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse, then, with my maid; perhaps I shall have sons through her.” Abram heeded Sarai’s request. 3 Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine. 4 He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she looked on her mistress with disdain. 5 So Sarai said to Abram: “You are responsible for this outrage against me. I myself gave my maid to your embrace; but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy, she has been looking on me with disdain.  May the Lord decide between you and me!” 6 Abram told Sarai: “Your maid is in your power. Do to her whatever you please.” Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her. 7 The Lord’s messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the road to Shur, 8 and he asked, “Hagar maid of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress, Sarai.” 9 But the Lord’s messenger told her: “Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment. 10 I will make your descendants so numerous,” added the Lord’s messenger, “that they will be too many to count. 11 Besides,” the Lord’s messenger said to her: “You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard you, God has answered you. 12 This one shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; in opposition to all his kin shall he encamp.” 15 Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.   P S A L M   Psalm 106:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord, or proclaim all his praises? (R) 3 Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. 4 Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. (R) Visit me with your saving help, 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. (R)     GOSPEL     What matters most is the witness of our lives. The words that we speak will have no meaning unless we live them out. Jesus is not interested in those who might call Him “Lord.” He is very interested in those who live the Gospel truths. These are the people He can nurture as saints and messengers of the Good News of salvation. Let us embrace the Gospel as fully as possible.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.   Matthew 7:21-29 21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.   think: The words that we speak will have no meaning unless we live them out.   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 Chronicles 22-24

You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way - Daily Bible Readings June 24,2015

1^ST READING

 

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. This is also our task. We are called to prepare those who do not know God to receive Him in faith. We may not be able to quantify what we do; our list of achievements may look short. However, we trust that the Holy Spirit is at work and will use us as instruments of His grace.

 

Isaiah 49:1-6

1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. 2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. 5 For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! 6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

R: I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

The birth of John the Baptist was a miracle in more ways than one. Any birth is a miracle of the gift of life. John’s birth was miraculous due to the barrenness and advanced age of his mother, Elizabeth. When God intervenes in the life of a barren woman, the child will have an extraordinary life like John’s.

 

Acts 13:22-26

22 In those days, Paul said: God raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ 26 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.”

 

GOSPEL

 

The new covenant is suffused with the grace and works of the Holy Spirit. As disciples of Jesus, we cannot live without the grace of the Holy Spirit. We are powerless without Him. Let us beg Him to lead and guide us in the ways of the Gospel, so that we can fulfill God’s plan for us just as John the Baptist did more than 2,000 years ago.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

 

Luke 1:57-66, 80

57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

think: We are powerless without the Holy Spirit.

 

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 Chronicles 19-21

 

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life - Daily Bible Readings June 23,2015

1^ST READING

 

God repeats His promises to Abraham because it is beginning to look as though they will not be fulfilled. Abraham continues to trust God, and rightly so, as He will be faithful to all that He has promised. We must trust the Lord and His will for our lives, just like Abraham did. We may look foolish but it is better to look foolish and to obey God than to disobey Him and lose the gift of eternal life.

 

Genesis 13:2, 5-18

2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 5 Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and those of Lot’s. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.) 8 So Abram said to Lot: “Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land at your disposal? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.” 10 Lot looked about and saw how well watered the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar, like the Lord’s own garden, or like Egypt. (This was before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward. Thus they separated from each other; 12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord. 14 After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram: “Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west; 15 all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted. 17 Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it.” 18 Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

 

Preachers tell us the path to heaven is wide. It is not — it is narrow and difficult. We do not serve anyone well when we do not speak the truth. Numbers at a rally matter far less than the content of the preaching. If the preaching is not true, then anyone who is there will be misled. Let us work for quality in our lives and fidelity to the truth so that we will lead people in the path of salvation.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

 

Matthew 7:6, 12-14

6 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

 

 

think: Better to look foolish and to obey God than to disobey Him and lose the gift of 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 1  Chronicles 16-18

 

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart - Daily Bible Readings June 22,2015

1ST READING   For Paul, Abraham is the example of a man of great faith. Abraham believed that whatever God wants for his life is the best thing for him to do. When he left Ur for the Promised Land, he exchanged a life of wealth and comfort for one that is uncertain. God promised much to Abraham, but isn’t it more sensible to take the path that is sure and proven?   Genesis 12:1-9 1 The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. 2 “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” 4 Abram went as the Lord directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, all the possessions that they had accumulated, and the persons they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, by the terebinth of Moreh. (The Canaanites were then in the land.) 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there to the Lord and invoked the Lord by name. 9 Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.   P S A L M   Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20, 22 R: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. 12 Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. 13 From heaven the Lord looks down; he sees all mankind. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield, 22 may your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (R)   GOSPEL   Hypocrisy is the death of religion and faith. One of the greatest hindrances to the proclamation of the Gospel today are priests who have lost their faith, those who simply “go through the motions” to get the job done. Serving God, whether as a priest or a lay person, is a privilege and an honor. It is a grace we must treasure more than any other we receive.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.   Matthew 7:1-5 1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. 2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. 3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? 5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”   think: Serving God, whether as a priest or a lay person, is a privilege and an honor.   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 Chronicles 13-15

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich - Daily Bible Readings June 20,2015

1ST READING   Paul does not want people to see him as strong, as this would be a hindrance to the proclamation of the Gospel. If we see that Paul is weak, incapable of living the Gospel by his own strength, then when we see the effect of his preaching and example. The power of Paul’s witness is seen through his weakness, according to the grace of God at work in him.   2 Corinthians 12:1-10 1 Brothers and sisters: I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter. 5 About this man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me 7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.   P S A L M   Psalm 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R) 9 [10] Fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for nought is lacking to those who fear him. 10 [11] The great grow poor and hungry; but those who seek the Lord want for no good thing. (R) 11 [12] Come, children, hear me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 [13] Which of you desires life, and takes delight in prosperous days? (R)   GOSPEL   The things that truly matter are related to eternal life, not this passing reality in the world. St. Francis of Assisi took the call of detachment very seriously. Some say that he took it to the extreme. Sometimes, what the world needs is a witness who shakes up society’s value system and gets people to think about other things. Our lives should be signs of contradiction today, but always within the perspective that it is eternal life that really matters.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.   Matthew 6:24-34 24 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29 But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32 All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”   think: Sometimes, what the world needs is a witness who shakes up society’s value system and gets people to think about other things.   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 Chronicles 7-9