Daily Bible Readings - March 17, 2012

1^st READING

 

Hosea is a prophet who focuses on the love of God and not His power and anger at missteps. He is the first to take this focus among the prophets, maybe the first in the history of all the writers of Israel. It is a major shift in focus that we do well to note and build upon as we seek new and more effective ways of packaging the Gospel message.

 

Hosea 6:1-6

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. 2 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. 3 Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” 4 What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. 5 For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; 6 For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21

R: It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 16 [18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R) 18 [20] Be bountiful, O Lord, to Zion in your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; 19 [21] then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

The Gospel today encourages us to grow in humility. If it is in the Gospel then it must be pretty important. Jesus is an expert on humility. He has come to the world to redeem us and part of His message is that we lack humility. This makes perfect sense when we consider that at the heart and basis of sin is pride. Pride led Adam and Eve to defy God’s command in the Garden of Eden. Pride also plays a major part in the rest of our sins.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Luke 18:9-14

9 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 10 “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 13 But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

BLESSING

think: At the heart and basis of sin is pride.

 

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 Genesis 13-15