Daily Bible Readings

August 31, 2011
1st READING
St. Paul begins his letter by giving thanks to God for His grace at work in the community to whom he writes. He mentions the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love that are manifest in the lives of the Christians at Colosse. These three virtues support each other and unite us most closely with God. When our faith grows dim, our hope dies and love lessens. By deepening our love for the Word of God, our faith will grow stronger.

Colossians 1:1-8
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the gospel, 6 that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, 7 as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

P S A L M

Psalms 52:10, 11
R: I trust in the mercy of God forever.
8 [10] I, like a green olive tree in the house of God, trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. (R) 9 [11] I will thank you always for what you have done, and proclaim the goodness of your name before your faithful ones. (R)

G O S P E L

We can see from this Gospel story that Simon Peter was not poor. He had his own business, a fishing boat and a home where Jesus and His disciples stayed when in Capernaum. Yet he put all these at the service of God’s Kingdom. What fruit did his decision bring? Peter’s mother-in-law, who had severe fever (probably malaria), is healed by Jesus and so are a multitude of people in the town. Let us also be generous in our response to God’s call as St. Peter was.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 4:38-44
38 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. 39 He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. 40 At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. 41 And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. 42 At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

my reflections
t h i n k : When our faith grows dim, our hope dies and love lessens.

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 Isaiah 45-48