Daily Bible Readings - January 3, 2012

1st READING

Sometimes, when we call someone a righteous person we do so with sarcasm indicating that their righteousness is filled with hypocrisy or some other form of self- interest. This should not make us fear seeking to become righteous men and women as this is fundamental to the call of holiness God has given to us all. To be a righteous person means to live an upright and holy life according to the law and will of God. This is something we all can and should aspire for in our Christian lives.

1 John 2:29-3:6
29 If you consider that God is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him. 3: 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. 4 Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.

P S A L M
Psalm 98:1, 3-4, 5-6
R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 3 All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)

GOSPEL

First impressions are important because these could make or break you even before the start of negotiations. But in the faith life, the final impressions are the most important – it is what we leave behind as our legacy that counts. We will be judged not on the illusions we have created in our lives but on the deeds we have done. Let us seek to be men and women of integrity — always living and proclaiming the truth from the start.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.

John 1:29-34
29 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 30 He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” 32 John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. 33 I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
BLESSING
LIST
think: To be a righteous person means to live an upright and holy life according to the law and will of God.

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 7-9