Daily Bible Readings - March 31, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Ezekiel prophesies a return of the sons of Israel from the nations to which they have been scattered in exile. This is a promise that captured the imagination of some and fell on deaf ears with others. It is up to each of us to make a decision for ourselves so that when God begins to move in our lives we will be ready to move with Him.

 

Ezekiel 37:21-28

Thus says the Lord God: 21 I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have come, and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land. 22 I will make them one nation upon the land, in the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one prince for them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms. 23 No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols, their abominations, and all their transgressions. I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy, and cleanse them so that they may be my people and I may be their God. 24 My servant David shall be prince over them, and there shall be one shepherd for them all; they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees. 25 They shall live on the land which I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their fathers lived; they shall live on it forever, they, and their children, and their children’s children, with my servant David their prince forever. 26 I will make with them a covenant of peace; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the Lord, who make Israel holy, when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.

 

P S A L M

 

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12, 13

R: The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock. (R) 11 The Lord shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. 12 Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the Lord’s blessings: The grain, the wine, and the oil, the sheep and the oxen. (R) 13 Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

LIST

Jesus was a prudent man. He knew His time had not yet come and so He hides from the authorities seeking to destroy Him. There is a time in our lives when we need to bide awhile and wait for the moment to come. However, when the time comes, it is essential that we grasp it with both hands and run with it. Let us seek to discover what prudence means for our lives. As we do this, we will discover new potentials we have within.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

John 11:45-56

45 Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 48 If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, 50 nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from that day on they planned to kill him. 54 So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. 56 They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”

 

think: There is a time in our lives when we need to bide awhile and wait for the moment to come.

 

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 7-9xodu

Daily Bible Readings - March 30, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Jeremiah knew what it meant to be despised by others. He has even given his name to the verb that ostracizes such a person. To be “jeremiahed” is to be excluded from the group. Let us spend a few moments thinking about the experience of Jeremiah so that we can see what it takes to be a prophet. Then let us listen carefully to God’s voice as He calls us all to become prophets for today’s world. Are we willing to respond to this call or will we ignore it?

 

Jeremiah 20:10-13

10 I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. “Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.” 11 But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. 12 O Lord of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. 13 Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 5-6, 7

R: In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

1 [2] I love you, O Lord, my strength, 2 [3] O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. (R) My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! 3 [4] Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies. (R) 4 [5] The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me; 5 [6] the cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me. (R) 6 [7] In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; from his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus followed in the footsteps of Jeremiah in that He was rejected by many of the influential Jewish leaders of His day. We should never forget this, especially when we are struggling against something, and even more particularly when we feel that there is nothing else we can do to overcome a particular sin or obstacle in our lives.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

 

John 10:31-42

31 The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are Gods”’? 35 If it calls them Gods to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside, 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; 38 but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. 40 He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. 41 Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 And many there began to believe in him.

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: Let us listen carefully to God’s voice as He calls us all to become prophets for today’s world. Are we willing to respond to this call or will we ignore it?

 

 

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 Exodus 4-6xod

Daily Bible Readings - March 29, 2012

1^ST READING

 

We need to have a vision for our lives. We need to know what we want to achieve. Without a vision we will simply disappear slowly into the shadows. The world will be changed by people who turn up to change it, not by those who shrink into the background for fear of making a mistake.

 

Genesis 17:3-9

3 When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: 4 “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. 5 No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. 6 I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. 7 I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.” 9 God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. 5 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (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)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is right! He knows something that the Jews do not. He knows that He has a supporter who will vindicate Him in the end and who can do anything He asks. We can believe exactly the same thing if we are truly men and women of faith, concentrated on doing what God wants us to do with our lives. Let us always remember that God’s will offers us the best opportunity for success.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

John 8:51-59

51 Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: The world will be changed by people who turn up to change it, not by those who shrink into the background for fear of making a mistake.

 

 

E 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 Exodus 1-3x

Daily Bible Readings - March 28, 2012

1^ST READING

 

These three men made a stand. They are men of faith and are not willing to deny it. It is an amazing reality to reflect on — people willing to give their lives for their beliefs. It is this sort of commitment that drove the martyrs of the Early Church. Their blood became the foundations upon which the Church was built. Are we willing to follow their example? Are we going to lay down our lives in the service of the Kingdom of God?

 

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

14 King Nebuchadnezzar said: “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my God, or worship the golden statue that I set up? 15 Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 18 But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your God or worship the golden statue that you set up.” 19 Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual 20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace. 24 [91] King Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” “Assuredly, O king,” they answered. 25 [92] “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a Son of God.” 28 [95] Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in  him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any God except their own God.”

 

P S A L M

 

Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R: Glory and praise forever!

[Dan 3:52] “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; and blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.” (R) 30 [Dan 3:53] Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. (R) 31 [Dan 3:54] Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R) 32 [Dan 3:55] Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R) 33 [Dan 3:56] Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus tells us that it is only the truth that can set us free. But why is it that we do not hear more talk of the truth in international debates these days? People talk a lot about money and economics and keeping economies strong, but where do the truths that surround these ideas come from? Certainly not from the Gospel. And then the world will have more serious problems than it had in the beginning.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

 

John 8:31-42

31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. 36 So if the son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38 I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” 39 They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

1st READING 2nd READING

think: Are we going to lay down our lives in the service 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 Genesis 47-50

Daily Bible Readings - March 27, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Sometimes, to get to a particular destination, there are some rocky roads that we have to traverse. There is nothing that we can do about this. A wise person knows this and has the patience to endure the difficulties, knowing that there will be an end to them if he just waits. It is not a perfect situation, but sin leaves us with no alternative.

 

Numbers 21:4-9

4 From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to bypass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, 5 the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” 6 In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 8 and the Lord said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and whoever looks at it after being bitten will alive.” 9 Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21

R: O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

[1 [2] O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. 2 [3] Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily. (R) 15 [16] The nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, 16 [17] when the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; 17 [18] when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. (R) 18 [19] Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: 19 [20] “The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, 20 [21] To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

St. Paul tells us that we proclaim a crucified Christ. Jesus tells us exactly the same thing, that when He is “lifted up from the earth He will draw all people to Himself.” There is no escaping the paradox that exists in the Gospel: a crucified Christ is the redeemer of the world. We will never be able to fully understand the wisdom of this truth but we certainly have to learn how to build our lives around it.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

John 8:21-30

21 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” 30 Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

 

think: Sometimes, to get to a particular destination, there are some rocky roads

that we have to traverse.

Genesis 43-46

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 Genesis 43-46

Daily Bible Readings - March 26, 2012

1^ST READING

 

A week ago, we celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph. Now we remember one of the mysteries associated with the life of Mary. This is an important part of our faith. As we reflect upon the response of a young girl to a request from God, we should be inspired by her faith and obedience. If all of us could be a little more like Mary, perhaps the world would be a much better place than it is today.

 

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!” 12 But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” 13 Then Isaiah said: “Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, 10 which means ‘God is with us!’”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 11

R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come. (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R) 10 [11] Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

Sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant were very bloody and messy. This all changed with the coming of Jesus. He made it quite clear that faith and obedience to God are far more important and effective than the shedding of the blood of goats and bulls and a variety of other animals. Our sins required a much greater sacrifice than the blood of animals. It took the life of the Son of God to redeem us.

 

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. 5 For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. 7 Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” 8 First

he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. 9 Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

GOSPEL

 

It is too much to think that Mary was able to say her “yes” without the help of the grace of God. In a mysterious way she has received the benefits of the death and resurrection of her Son, Jesus, even before He was born. Yes, He pre-existed His birth, as He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. How the grace of God works is beyond our understanding. Let us just trust that it does, and get on with following God’s will for us.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.

 

Luke 1:26-38

26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

BLESSING

LIST

think: If all of us could be a little more like Mary, perhaps the world would be a much better place than it is today.

 

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 Genesis 40-42

Daily Bible Readings - March 25, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Jeremiah prophesies that God is going to replace the stony hearts of His people with hearts of flesh. What does this mean? This is a  foreshadowing of the gift of the Holy Spirit that will be given to all who have faith in Christ. It is not that the Holy Spirit was not around in the Old Testament times; it is a reflection that the Old Testament understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit was somewhat limited. It changes with Jesus.

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the Lord. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the Lord, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15

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

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 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)

 

2^ND READING

 

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that one way of strengthening our prayers is to make them with humble submission to God. This is an important aspect of the life of a disciple. Submission to God and His will is the basis of our service. It is not a sign of weakness and it is certainly not a sign of our refusal to take responsibility for our decisions. Let us remember that submission to God’s will is the act of a strong man.

 

Hebrews 5:7-9

7 In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

 

GOSPEL

 

The Father raised Jesus from the dead. It was the least the Father could do given that everything Jesus did was at His command. Jesus did what His Father asked Him to do. His resurrection from the dead vindicated everything Jesus stood for in His life. It was the coup de gras that sets the scene for the mission of the Church. Let us remember this as we carry out the will of God through the Church’s mission.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever serves me must follow me, says the Lord; and where I am, there also will my servant be.

 

John 12:20-33

20 Some Greeks who had come up to worship at the Passover Feast 21 came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. 27 I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. 31 Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

1st READING 2nd READING

think: Submission to God’s will is the act of a strong man.

 

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 Genesis 37-39

Daily Bible Readings - March 24, 2012

1^st READING  

 

The wise warrior looks for the weakness of his enemy and attacks there. Only a fool plays to the strength of his opponent. We need to take stock of our situation and make our decisions with respect to all the various factors. We need to be wise about the way we make these decisions so that we do so with the best advice we can find. Let us listen to the Spirit of God and His Word as it is made available to us in the Scriptures.

 

Jeremiah 11:18-20

18 I knew their plot because the Lord informed me; at that time you, O Lord, showed me their doings. 19 Yet, I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will not be spoken no more.” 20 “But you, O Lord of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 7:2-3, 9-10, 11-12

R: O, Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

1 [2] O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, 2 [3] lest I become like the lion’s prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me. (R) 8 [9] Do me justice, O Lord, because I am just, and because of the innocence that is mine. 9 [10] Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain the just, O searcher of heart and soul, O just God. (R) 10 [11] A shield before me is God, who saves the upright of heart; 11 [12] a just judge is God, a God who punishes day by day. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Some people hated what He had to say and others loved it. This should not surprise us at all. When you are making suggestions as serious as Jesus is, you can expect a lot of opposition. Sometimes you have to be willing to make a mess before achieving the end you desire. It is like following a recipe — mixed ingredients rarely resemble the desired result. Similarly, in the midst of a mission, there will be many messy situations. Let us trust they will work themselves out with both our help and that of the Holy Spirit.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

 

John 7:40-53

40 Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” 47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 51 “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 53 Then each went to his own house.

 

think: Sometimes you have to be willing to make a mess before achieving the end you desire.

 

 

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 Genesis 34-36

Daily Bible Readings - March 23, 2012

1^st READING  

 

Why does it seem that the good die young and the wicked prosper? It seems ironic to me that this old adage hits the nail on the head, so to speak, far too often. Perhaps it is because prosperity is not a measure of the righteousness of a person. On the other hand, someone who neglects doing the right thing and looking out for others has a lot more time to spend making money. Let us make sure that we do not fall on the wrong side of this equation.

 

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22

1 The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: 12 “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the Lord. 14 To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, 15 because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. 16 He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. 17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. 18 For if the just one be the Son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” 21 These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, 22 and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 23

R: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 19 [20] Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him. (R) 20 [21] He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. 22 [23] But the Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus was very effective at making enemies to the point that they wanted to kill Him. Some people say that you know you are doing something right when people want to kill you. The Church discovered this very quickly as many of her early converts faced and suffered martyrdom for their beliefs. It is this level of commitment that began to make a difference for the Gospel.

 

LIST

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

 

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

1 Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. 25 Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? 27 But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

 

 

think: Prosperity is not a measure of the righteousness of a person.

 

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 Genesis 31-33