1ST READING
Paul liked to use connections to proclaim the Gospel. It is a very sensible and effective way to present a message to people who have never heard it before. Having an introduction from a mutual friend helps to overcome doubt and suspicion even before a word has been spoken. Let us learn from the tactics and wisdom of Paul as we seek to proclaim the Good News in our own situations.
Acts 18:1-8
1 Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to visit them 3 and, because he practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue, attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 So he left there and went to a house belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next to a synagogue. 8 Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.
P S A L M
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
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) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) 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)
GOSPEL
Jesus hints that there will be some difficult times ahead for Him and His disciples. Maybe He hints about it because He is not fully aware of all the details Himself. Maybe He simply does not want to scare His disciples too much before the time of His passion and death occurs. It is a theologically open discussion as to what precise knowledge Jesus had of His own passion and death. There is no doubt He knew He had a mission; exactly how it would unfold is something we are not sure that Jesus had full knowledge of.
Judges 1-4
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
John 16:16-20
16 Jesus said to his disciples: “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
think: Let us learn from the tactics and wisdom of Paul as we seek to proclaim the Good News in our own situations.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Judges 1-4
No comments:
Post a Comment