Daily Bible Readings

August 19, 2011
1st READING
In Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, we see a beautiful image of a soul who desires to cleave to and serve God. Ruth desires to worship the God of Naomi, not the pagan gods of her people. This devotion leads her to a journey of true discipleship where she leaves her own people to join with the people of God. God rewards Ruth’s faithfulness by arranging her marriage to Boaz, the great grandfather of King David.

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22
1 Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. 3 Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, 4 who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. 6 She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. 14 Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. 15 Naomi said, “See now!” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! for wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 22 Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

P S A L M

Psalms 146:5-6, 7, 8-9, 9-10
R: Praise the Lord, my soul!
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. (R) The LORD keeps faith forever, 7 secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. (R) 8 The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those that were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. 9 The LORD protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)

G O S P E L
The Pharisees had taken the 10 commandments of the law and from there came up with 613 laws that one should keep. It was common for people to try to simplify this and each rabbi would be asked what of the 613 laws was the most important. Jesus shows that He is the greatest of all the teachers as He simplifies the laws to two. If we fulfill these two, Jesus tells us, we have fulfilled the whole law.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them a scholar of the law tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

my reflections
t h i n k : If we fulfill the two greatest commandments, we have fulfilled the whole law.

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 Sirach 46-51