1ST READING
The
four creatures in this text are the images we ascribe to the four
Gospels: The eagle is John, the ox is Mark, the man is Matthew, and the
lion is Luke. The Gospels always give praise and glory to God. These
reveal God to us through the image of His Son. We should have reverence
and awe for the Gospels that reveal God’s plan of salvation.
Revelation 4:1-11
1 I,
John, had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the
trumpet-like voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here
and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” 2 At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat 3 one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. 4 Surrounding
the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders
sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads. 5 From
the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.
Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven
spirits of God. 6 In
front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like
crystal. In the center and around the throne, there were four living
creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. 7 The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the
third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. 8 The
four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with
eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to
come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever.
They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: 11 “Worthy
are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you
created all things; because of your will they came to be and were
created.”
P S A L M
Psalm 150:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
1 Praise the Lord in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his strength. 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds. Praise him for his sovereign majesty. (R) 3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet, praise him with lyre and harp, 4 praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipe. (R) 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals, praise him with clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Alleluia. (R)
GOSPEL
We
are given gifts and talents to use in building the Kingdom of God. Let
us use these for His glory. Many fall into the trap of keeping the glory
for themselves that leads to pride and arrogance. Intelligent people
refuse to believe in God because they cannot verify His existence
through scientific observation.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
Luke 19:11-28
11 While
people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable
because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ 14 His
fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him
to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ 15 But
when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants
called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by
trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ 17 He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ 19 And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ 20 Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, 21 for
I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what
you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ 22 He
said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked
servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I did not
lay down and harvesting what I did not plant. 23 Why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ 24 And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ 25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ 26
He replied, ‘I tell you, to
everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even
what he has will be taken away. 27 Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” 28 After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
think: We are given gifts and talents to use in building the Kingdom of God.
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 Psalm 66-70
