Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter - Daily Bible Readings March 31,2015

1^ST READING

 

 

God wants to turn us into double-edged swords. What does this mean? God wants to use the witness of our lives to challenge the world to look at the way it has compromised itself with sin. If only we Christians can live uncompromised and holy lives, then our witness will remind others that there is more to life than the pleasures of the world. This is a message the world needs to hear. Are we willing to deliver it?

 

Isaiah 49:1-6

1 Hear me, O islands, 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 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17

R: I will sing of your salvation.

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. (R) 3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 5 For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. 6 On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. (R) 15 My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

This is one of the darkest times the world has experienced — the suffering and death of the Son of God for our sake. Night has fallen (an ominous image) as Judas, Jesus’ betrayer, leaves the room. Jesus also prophesied that Peter will deny Him three times before morning, something Peter vehemently denies will happen. This is a dark and difficult time when the Apostles fall asleep as Jesus prays. We are all sinners for whom Jesus is about to be nailed to a cross.

 

 

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.

 

John 13:21-33, 36-38

21 Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. 23 One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. 24 So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. 25 He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. 30 So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. 31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

 

think: God wants to use the witness of our lives to challenge the world to look at the way it has compromised itself with sin.

 

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 22-24

REVIEW OF

Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults - Daily Bible Readings March 30, 2015

1ST READING    The Suffering Servant that Isaiah writes about suffers immensely in silence. We need to be realistic about the passion of Jesus. During Holy Week, let us seek to understand the reality of Jesus’ experience because everything that He takes upon Himself, He does for us. This is the truth of Jesus’ passion — He suffers for us. Even if there is only one person in the world, He still would have died on the cross. This is the depth of His love for you and me.   Isaiah 42:1-7 1 Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, 2 Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, 4 until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: 6 I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.   P S A L M   Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 R: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 2 When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies themselves stumble and fall. (R) 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)   GOSPEL   This image of a woman anointing Jesus’ feet and drying them with her hair is extraordinary. Try to picture it in your mind. This is a unique historical event that speaks of the depth of her love and experience of Jesus in her life. Let us not pass over it without trying to picture and understand it more fully.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults.     John 12:1-11 1 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 11 because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.   think: Let us seek to understand the reality of Jesus’ experience because everything that He takes upon Himself He does for us.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 19-21

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit - Daily Bible Readings March 28,2015

1ST READING     Unity is an important aspect of our faith. The Church is the Body of Christ and if it is divided, then the Body of Christ is divided. Disunity among Christians is a complete and utter scandal — something that hinders the work of evangelization. Ecumenism, the work to unify all Christians, is an important but difficult work. We should pray for its success as often as we can.   Ezekiel 37:21-28 21 Thus says the Lord God: 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 themselveswith 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 that 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) 13Then 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   Jesus did not only come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover; He became the Feast of Passover in His own body. Jesus’ Gospel is the result of a faith that has existed for at least 1,800 years and now, in His person, takes a new and radical turn that has sustained it for another 2,000 years and will continue to do so until He comes again. Our faith is in Jesus, the Son of God sent to be our Redeemer. We cannot get any more personal than that. Our God is one of us!   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: Ecumenism, the work to unify all Christians, is an important but difficult work. We should pray for its success as often as we can.     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 13-15

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life - Daily Bible Readings March 27, 2015

1^ST READING

 

Anyone who does work for the Lord will run into opposition sometime, just as the prophets were threatened at some point. Jeremiah recounts his experiences for us in order to strengthen us in our trials and to help us embrace any suffering that may come our way. As we meditate upon Jeremiah’s experience, let us ask him to pray for us for strength and the courage to persevere in doing what God asks us to do.

 

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 often said that people will know us as Christians by our works and the way we live our lives. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convert people to faith in Christ. It is our job to live the Gospel to the full and give an account of what we believe when asked. This is a great consolation to us as it means the responsibility for evangelization rests with God. He will ask us to do many things, but even then the power for conversion is God’s alone to give.

 

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.

think: People will know us as Christians by our works and the way we live our lives.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 10-12

 

 

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts - Daily Bible Readings March 26,2015

1ST READING   The covenant between God and Abraham is in the form of a contract – if you do X, then I will do Y. This is one way of looking at our relationship with God. We can also look at it through the prism of love whereby we get a very different feeling. It is important to understand both images as they contribute to a correct understanding of our faith. There are obligations and duties involved in our faith, and these are meant to be fulfilled in love, not just out of duty.   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 for ever. 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 makes it clear that He is not interested in personal glory — He does only what the Father asks Him to do. This has to be true of us, too, as we become His disciples. We need to act out of love and devotion to God and not to glorify ourselves. We cannot save ourselves or anyone else. We can only do what Jesus asks us to do and let Him be the Savior.   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.   think: We cannot save ourselves or anyone else. We can only do what Jesus asks us to do and let Him be the Savior.   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  7-9

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and we saw his glory - Daily Bible Readings March 25,2015

1^ST READING

 

 

Ahaz is counseled by Isaiah not to put his trust in an alliance with another worldly power in order to beat off the siege of Jerusalem but to place his trust in the Lord. Ahaz does as Isaiah counsels but at too many other instances in Israel’s history, Israel gives in to the temptation of wanting immediate assurance and fails to place their trust in the Lord. This opens the door to the worship of alien gods in the life of Israel, as each of the alliances brings with it certain compromises in Israel’s faith stance.

 

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

10 The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, 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 conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel 8:10 which means “With us is God!”

 

P S A L M

 

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

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

6 [7] Sacrifice or offering 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

 

No matter how many animal sacrifices we might offer, still nothing compares to simple obedience to God’s will. In obeying His will, we discover the fullness of life which is not available through any other means. Mary stands before us as a perfect example of what obedience to God means. Let us follow her example.

 

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats takes 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 in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. 7 Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” 8 First Christ 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

 

Let us be inspired by Mary and follow her example. If we do what Jesus asks us to do, then the dream of world peace, the true experience of the brotherhood of Man, would be just around the corner. Let us do our part in making God’s will known to the world.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word 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.

 

think: Mary stands before us as a perfect example of obedience to God. Let us follow her example.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ T

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever - Daily Bible Readings March 24,2015

1ST READING   We easily forget the blessings of the Lord. The Israelites are already grumbling about the boring food they have to endure in crossing the desert to the Promised Land. Well, it is about to get a lot worse — there will be 40 years of the desert due to their ingratitude. This is one time in the Old Testament where the people complain so quickly. It is always going to be a long journey to a new land.   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 live.” 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   The phrase “lift up the Son of Man” becomes a very important interpretative tool in the Gospel of John. He links the salvation won by Jesus on the Cross to that of Moses bringing the People of Israel out of Egypt. This allows the Fathers of the Church to make a comparison along the lines of physical slavery (in Egypt) and spiritual slavery (to sin). It is an important image for understanding what happens when Jesus dies on the cross. We are set free from our slavery to sin and, thus, are no longer under its clutches, in the same way that the People of Israel were freed from Pharaoh’s domination.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.   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: We easily forget the blessings of 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 Exodus 1-3

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live - Daily Bible Readings March 23,2015

1ST READING   The story of Daniel saving Susanna’s life is reminiscent of many other people who were saved from injustices at the last moment. It reminds us to honor truth and to avoid lies and perjury because these can cost people their lives. It is important that Christians stand by and proclaim the dignity of life in order that the sin of abortion will not rest upon our shoulders because we remained silent.   Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 (or Daniel 13:41-62) 1[Dan 13:1] In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, 2[Dan 13:2] who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; 3[Dan 13:3] her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4[Dan13:4] Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all. 5[Dan 13:5] That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.” 6[Dan13:6]These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. 7[Dan 13:7] When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk. 8Dan 13:8When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. 9[Dan 13:9] They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. 15[Dan13:15] One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm. 16[Dan 13:16Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17[Dan13:17] “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden doors while I bathe.” 19[Dan13:19]As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. 20[Dan13:20] “Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. 21[Dan 13:21] If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.” 22[Dan13:22]“I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. 23[Dan 13:23Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” 24[Dan13:24Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, 25[Dan13:25as one of them ran to open the garden doors. 26[Dan 13:26] When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. 27[Dan 13:27] At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. 28[Dan13:28] When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined toput Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered: 29[Dan 13:29] “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, 30[Dan13:30she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. 33[Dan 13:33] All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. 34[Dan 13:34] In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head. 35[Dan 13:35] Through tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. 36[Dan13:36]The elders made this accusation: “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls. 37[Dan13:37] A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. 38[Dan 13:38] When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 39[Dan 13:39] We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. 40[Dan 13:40] Then we seized her and asked who the young man was, 41[Dan 13:41] but she refused to tell us. We testify to this.” The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42[Dan 13:42] But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 43[Dan 13:43] you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.” 44[Dan 13:44] The Lord heard her prayer. 45[Dan13:45] As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46[Dan 13:46] and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” 47[Dan 13:47] All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 48[Dan 13:48] He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O children of Israel! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? 49[Dan13:49Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.” 50[Dan 13:50]Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” 51[Dan 13:51] But he replied, “Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them.” 52[Dan13:52] After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: 53[Dan 13:53] passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ 54[Dan 13:54]Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” 55[Dan13:55] “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your 8 head,” for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” 56[Dan 13:56] Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. 57[Dan 13:57] This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. 58[Dan 13:58]Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” 59[Dan 13:59] “Under an oak,” he said. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head, for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.” 60[Dan 13:60] The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him. 61[Dan 13:61] They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 62[Dan 13:62] they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.   P S A L M     Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 R: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.   1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)   GOSPEL     At least, the people were truthful enough to admit they were sinners. I wonder what would have happened if Mary, the Mother of Jesus, had been in the crowd, but I am immediately reminded that she would not have been on such a crusade in the first place. Instead, she would do all she could do to help the girl in her terrible situation, not condemn her for it. Killing the sinner does not help them to a place of repentance and conversion.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.     John 8:1-11 1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”   think: We need to honor truth and to avoid lies and perjury because these can cost people their lives.     T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 47-50