Daily Bible Reflections

February 28, 2011

1st READING
Repentance is one of the doors through which we have to pass if we want to receive the fullness of God’s grace. In this case, there is no ‘shortcut’ or path by which we can avoid confronting our sins if we truly want to grow in discipleship. In fact, the further we go along this walk, the more we will be acutely aware of our need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Sirach 17:19-27
19 To the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope! 20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few. 21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes; 22 who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise? 23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well. 24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him! 25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man. 26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood! 27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.

P S A L M

Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
R: Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
1 Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. (R) 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. (R) 6 For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. (R) 7 You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. (R)

G O S P E L

Riches and wealth are more often than not a distraction to the spiritual life. As long as we have the basics in life, that ought to be enough for us. If we begin to enter the consumerist mindset that drives so much of the world today, we will quickly discover how it can consume us and draw us into its sticky web where escape is impossible or very difficult and dangerous.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Mark 10:17-27
17 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

my reflections
think: Repentance is one of the doors through which we have to pass if we want to receive the fullness of God’s grace.

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Deuteronomy 27-30