Daily Bible Readings - October 31,2012

1^ST READING

 

One of the saddest things I have ever seen is a child who has no respect for his or her parents. Similarly, one of the most awful injustices I have seen is a parent who has no respect for his or her duty as a father or mother. Relationships are essential to all human communities; without relationships we become inhuman. Let us treasure the relationships we have and do all we can to make them grow.

 

Ephesians 6:1-9

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise, 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, 6 not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 willingly serving the Lord and not men, 8 knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 13-14

R: The Lord is faithful in all his words.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. 13 Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

The door to salvation is narrow; the one to perdition is wide and spacious. It is essential that we realize that it will not be easy to be a disciple of Jesus. We must be ready to persevere and pay the price if we truly want to be His disciples. It is easy to say that we want to follow Jesus; it is a totally different reality to actually live this life.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Luke 13:22-30

22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

 

think: The door to salvation is narrow; the one to perdition is wide and spacious.

 

 

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 Isaiah 37-40  

Daily Bible Readings - October 30,2012

1^ST READING

 

It is not for anyone to say how a married couple should work out their relationship. Yes, it is possible to give a general outline and some guiding principles such as “mutually submit your lives to one another.“ However, to detail the arrangement of this mutual submission is dangerous as people are individuals and every marriage is a unique relationship. Marriages that last are those where the couple works hard at understanding each other. This is the key, as well as their willingness to acknowledge that there has to be a lot of give and take.

 

Ephesians 5:21-33

21 Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself the savior of the Body. 24 As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, 27 that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, 30 because we are members of his Body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. 33 In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

 

P S A L M

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R: Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

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

 

I love the image of yeast leavening a piece of dough. I have often made bread and scones and have always marveled at the way yeast works. I love watching scones rise in the oven to the point that they even begin to topple over. Let us pray that the yeast of the Holy Spirit, the grace of God, will be ever abundant in our lives to the point that we will overflow with God’s love and blessings for others.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 

Luke 13:18-21

18 Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.’ ” 20 Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

LIST

think: Let us pray that the yeast of the Holy Spirit, the grace of God, will be ever abundant in our lives to the point that we will overflow with God’s love and blessings for others.

Isaiah 33-36

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 Isaiah 33-36  

Daily Bible Readings - October 29,2012

1^ST READING

 

We are called to holiness, but this means differently for each of us, depending on our states and situations in life. What is common to this call is that Jesus has to be the center of our lives and that it is the Holy Spirit that will give us the grace to be holy. Let us heed the call to be holy and to respond to it in every way to make it a reality in our lives.

 

Ephesians 4:32-5:8

32 Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. 5: 1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. 3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, 4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. 5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. 7 So do not be associated with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6

R: Behave like God as his very dear children.

1 Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, 2 but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. (R) 3 He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers. (R) 4 Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus knows that love is not constrained by the Sabbath Law. Jesus knows that healing a woman on the Sabbath in no way violates the Sabbath Law. It is only a perverse understanding of the Law that contradicts this belief and yet the Pharisees do this. Why? Maybe it is because they see the super structure of their faith disintegrating before their eyes, but what is certain is that, when we put our faith in God, we should be prepared for some pretty big changes in our lives.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.

 

Luke 13:10-17

10 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. 11 And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” 13 He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” 15 The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? 16 This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” 17 When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

 

think: When we put our faith in God, we should be prepared for some pretty big changes in 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 Isaiah 29-32   

Daily Bible Readings - October 28,2012

1^ST READING

 

Jeremiah promises us that the Lord will guide us to the right place where we can live in peace, harmony and prosperity. Is this a place on Earth? Maybe it is, but it is certainly a promise that ultimately, in heaven, everything will be perfect. So many of the promises of God need to be seen in this light if we are to understand them properly. We cannot assume that the promises of blessing and prosperity will be completely fulfilled in this life.

 

Jeremiah 31:7-9

7 Thus says the Lord: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. 9 They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

1 When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. 5 Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) 6 Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

 

2^nd READING

 

The priestly people of the Old Testament, the descendants of Aaron, the tribe of Levi, are called to remember that they are not above the rest of the people just because of their role. No priest is perfect, other than Jesus Himself, and so he must learn how to live with his limitations in humility, relying upon the grace of God to lead him to victory over sin. In this he ought to be an example to his flock, always seeking to serve and help them in their faith journeys.

 

Hebrews 5:1-6

1 Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness 3 and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”; 6 just as he says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is concerned with the welfare of the least of God’s people. We should never assume that God is not interested in the plight of a person. He always finds a way to minister to those in need. So often, the means of ministering is simply the listening ear of a friend. At other times a more concrete response is necessary. Let us always seek to treat others in the way that Jesus would treat them.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

 

Mark 10:46-52

46 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. 47 On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” 50 He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 51 Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” 52 Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

BLESSING

LIST

think: Let us always seek to treat others in the way that Jesus would treat them.

 

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 Isaiah 25-28   

 

Daily Bible Readings - October 26,2012

1^ST READING

 

Working for unity is not easy. As Paul tells us, it requires a lot of patience and perseverance. However, it is necessary because if there is one thing that is not good for the proclamation of the Gospel, it is disunity among the multitude of Christian factions. Let us make sure that we do what we can to preserve the unity of the Body of Christ so that the witness presented to the world is convincing enough.

 

Ephesians 4:1-6

1 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; 4 one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

We must try to avoid scandal when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel. This means that we have to avoid doing things that might look scandalous even if in reality they are not. This may not seem fair, but sometimes it is necessary to avoid any sense of impropriety. However, the Gospel is worth the sacrifice. In fact, the Gospel is worth whatever sacrifice it takes to get the message out to those who need to hear it.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 

Luke 12:54-59

54 Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain — and so it does; 55 and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot — and so it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” READING 2nd READING

 

think: The Gospel is worth whatever sacrifice it takes to get the message out to those who need to hear 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 Isaiah 17-20   

 

Daily Bible Readings - October 25,2012

1^ST READING

 

Paul is not focused on what he can get out of the Gospel but on what the Gospel offers to all who listen to and appropriate it. This has to be our attitude as well. Yes, it is OK to recognize that the Gospel is for us as well. That is, we, too, receive the gift of salvation through it. However, like Paul we need to focus on the nature of the Gospel as a gift to be shared with as many people as possible.

 

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

1 Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. 2 Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. (R) 4 For upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. (R) 11 But the plan of the Lord stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations. 12 Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. (R) 18 But 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)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

This text tells us that Jesus is aware that He has a mission to accomplish and it is an important one. Like all of us anticipating a big event, there is a sense of expectation regarding the accomplishment of the task. Jesus knows He has been sent to redeem us — there could not be a bigger event to wait on. Jesus knows that accomplishing His task will not be easy and require many difficult decisions. The same is true for us as we work at proclaiming the Gospel.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

 

2nd READING

Luke 12:49-53

49 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

LIST

think: We need to focus on the nature of the Gospel as a gift to be shared with as many people as possible.

 

 

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 Isaiah 13-16   

Daily Bible Readings - October 24,2012

1^ST READING

 

Paul is trying to express how difficult it is to plumb the depths of the nature of God. He is also struggling to understand how to make sense of his call to be a preacher of the Gospel. We are all called to preach the Gospel — it is part of what it means to be a Christian. As Paul and many of the prophets of the Old Testament have said, when the Lord calls they felt impelled to respond.

 

Ephesians 3:2-12

2 Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, 3 namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. 4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. 7 Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. 8 To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.

P S A L M

 

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

R: You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

2 God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. 3 With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. (R) 4 Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. 6 Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

We will always face challenges in our lives, no matter what vocation we pursue. This parable reminds us to take our responsibilities seriously as we will be called to account for them — if not in this life, then on Judgment Day. Let us seek to acquit ourselves of our responsibilities as well as we can.

BLESSING

LIST

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

 

Luke 12:39-48

39 Jesus said to his disciples: Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 41 Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; 48 and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

BLESSING

think: We are all called to preach the Gospel — it is part of what it means to be a Christian.

 

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 Isaiah 9-12   

 

Daily Bible Readings - October 23,2012

1^ST READING

 

When the author of the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of the Blood of Christ bringing us closer to God, he is literally referring to the blood of Christ shed on the cross. The Jews consider shedding of the blood as the means by which sins are forgiven. And so, when gauging our commitment to our faith, the author is asking us to reflect on the price Jesus paid for our salvation.

 

Ephesians 2:12-22

12 Brothers and sisters: You were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh, 15 abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile both with God, in one Body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. 21 Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; 22 in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14

R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord — for he proclaims peace. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

This Gospel asks us to be prepared at all times for whatever God will call us to do. It could be something unexpected — something that we have not planned. If we are serious in doing God’s will, we must be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and where He is leading us. It is not easy to be at the beck and call of the Gospel, but that is what being a disciple of Jesus is all about.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

 

Luke 12:35-38

35 Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: It is not easy to be at the beck and call of the Gospel, but that is what being a disciple of Jesus is all about.

 

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 Isaiah 5-8

Daily Bible Readings - October 22,2012

1^ST READING

 

It is grace that saves us, not our hard work or personal efforts to be good. Yet, we have to apply ourselves to the call to grow in holiness. Sounds somewhat paradoxical, but it is true. Salvation is a gift that God gives us, and our efforts to serve the Church and grow in holiness are our gifts to Him. Let us never forget that God owes us nothing and that we owe Him everything.

 

Ephesians 2:1-10

1 Brothers and sisters: You were dead in your transgressions and sins 2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so no one may boast. 10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 4-5

R: The Lord made us, we belong to him.

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 2 serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. (R) Give thanks to him; bless his name, 5 for he is good: the Lord, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

This parable tells us why we cannot earn our own salvation. It affirms that God is the one who is in control and not us. The rich man is storing up treasures for himself on earth and little does he know that he is about to die. This reminds us that we should place the focus of our hearts and minds on the things that really matter, the eternal realities of life and our need for salvation.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: God owes us nothing; we owe Him everything.

 

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 Isaiah 1-4