Daily Bible Readings

September 5, 2011
1st READING

Paul saw that the sufferings that he endured in his missionary work and apostolic endeavors were in a mysterious way a prefiguring of the sufferings that are necessary to see the church, Christ’s body, brought to its perfection. This perspective gave meaning to his sufferings and made them an expression of his love for the Christian communities that he ministered to. We, too, can offer all our pain and sufferings to the Lord as St. Paul did and so help build the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:24-2:3
24 Brothers and sisters: I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, 25 of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, 26 the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, 27 to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, dmonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. 2: 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

P S A L M


Psalms 62:6-7, 9
R: In God is my safety and my glory.
5 [6] Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. 6 [7] He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (R) 8 [9] Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him; God is our refuge! (R)

G O S P E L
The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus’ popularity with the people and so, at every opportunity, they sought to trap Him doing something that was in their view against the law of Moses. Here they want Him to cure a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath so they could accuse Him of breaking the law. Jesus is not to be intimidated by their hypocrisy and legalistic interpretation of the law and boldly calls the man forth and heals him in front of them.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 6:6-11
6 On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. 8 But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” 10 Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. 11 But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

my reflections
think: We, too, can offer all our pain and sufferings to the Lord as St. Paul did and so help build the Kingdom of God.

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 64-66


Isaiah 64-66