Daily Bible Readings

October 30, 2011
1st READING

God speaks through Prophet Malachi, to the priests who had not been faithful to the covenant and who had taught the people false doctrines. Since priests are entrusted by God to be the teachers and shepherd of His people, they have a solemn obligation to fulfill this sacred mission with all integrity and faithfulness. When priests do not reverence the things of God and begin to teach false doctrines, they lose the respect of the people and undermine their own authority.

Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10
14 A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. 2: 1 And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, 2 and if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. 8 You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; you have made void
the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. 9 I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions. 10 Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other, violating the covenant of our fathers?

P S A L M

Psalms 131:1, 2, 3
R: In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
1 O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. (R) 2 Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me. (R) 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever. (R)

2nd READING

In contrast to the false priests that Malachi spoke against, we see here the ministry of a faithful priest, the Apostle Paul. We see in St. Paul an example of selfless and diligent pastoral ministry in which he served the people and tenderly cared for them like a mother cares for her child. He did not even expect any payment for his services but worked with his own hands to support himself while ministering. Because of this loving and maternal ministry, the people revered Paul and his message as one from God Himself.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13
7 Brothers and sisters: We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. 9 You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

G O S P E L

While Jesus respected the authority of the teachers of the law, He was critical of their lives, which did not reflect what they were teaching. Jesus did not want His followers to seek honors and preferential treatment that would elevate them above the ordinary people, but to be as servants just as He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to lay down his life for the people.”

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
You have but one Father in heaven and one master, the Christ.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 23:1-12
1 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

my reflections
t h i n k : Jesus did not want His followers to seek honors and preferential treatment that would elevate them above the ordinary people.

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 John 5-8
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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