Daily Bible Readings April 29, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Jesus is indeed the keystone upon which we must build our lives if we want to have true significance in and for the Kingdom of God. There is no more important relationship in our lives than the one we have with Jesus. This is why setting time aside for prayer is not optional. It is as important for our spiritual health as a good diet is for our physical body. Let us not neglect prayer and focus on growing in our relationship with God.

 

Acts 4:8-12

8 Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R) 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 28 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his kindness  endures forever. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

How often do we reflect on the truth that one day, if we go to heaven, we will be united with the Trinity? Is there any more awesome thought than that one we could consider? It is important to have a vision for where we are going or else we will be easily deflected from the true path of faith. Let us not give the devil this opportunity by being firmly convinced of our ultimate destiny — unity with the Trinity.

 

1 John 3:1-2

1 Beloved: 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.

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. One of the goals of Pope John Paul II was to reform the training of priests so that they would be better shepherds. This desire is seen in his writing, Pastores Dabo Vobis, (I Will Give Them Shepherds). It is essential that we pray not just for our priests but also those training to become priests so that they develop the heart of the Good Shepherd and learn the means of maintaining it — that is, by prayer and holy life.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.

 

John 10:11-18

11 Jesus said: I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

BLESSING

LIST

think: Setting time aside for prayer is not optional. It is as important for our spiritual health as a good diet is for our physical body.

 

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 Numbers 28-30

 

LIST 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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