Daily Bible Readings

1st READING

God repeats His promise of progeny to Abraham. When we reflect upon this promise in the light of Romans 4, I think we can begin to understand its true significance. Paul presents Abraham as the Father of our Faith in Romans 4; he is the perfect example of what it means to be a man of faith. Thus the real progeny of Abraham are not his blood descendants (obviously of which there are many), but all men and women of faith. It is faith that he has fathered and bequeaths to the humanity as his greatest legacy.

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
1 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” 3 Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” 6 Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. 7 He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” 8 “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “How am I to know hat I shall possess it?” 9 He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. 11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. 12 As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, errifying darkness enveloped him. 17 When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. 18 It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates.”

P S A L M

Psalms 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! 4 Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (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)

G O S P E L

There will always be men and women whom Satan uses, whether implicitly or explicitly, as false prophets. This is why it is important for us to be formed in our faith. If we know the basic tenets of our faith we will not be easily led astray by false prophets. If we are ignorant of our faith it will be easy for false doctrines to seduce our unformed minds and hearts.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7:15-20
15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.”

my reflections
t h i n k: There will always be men and women whom Satan uses as false prophets.

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 Psalm 1-5