Daily Bible Readings - June 17, 2012

1ST READING   From the top of the tallest tree, a shoot will be taken and planted on the top of the tallest hill. This is what proclaiming the Gospel is all about. To be successful in preaching the Gospel, we should focus on getting the most lively aspect of the Gospel and plant it in the best ground for it to grow. This is the work of an evangelist, an apostle; it is yours and mine as well.   Ezekiel 17:22-24 22 Thus says the Lord God: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; 23 on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, Bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the Lord, have spoken, so will I do.   P S A L M   Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 R: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. 1 [2] It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, 2 [3] to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. (R) 12 [13] The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. 13 [14] They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (R) 14 [15] They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, 15 [16] declaring how just is the Lord, my rock, in whom there is no wrong. (R)   2ND READING   One of the goals of our life must be to please the Lord in all things. There is no point in knowing what to do unless we are willing to act upon it. Let us always seek to open our hearts to the grace to live the Gospel so that we will bear witness to its power to convert us to faith in Christ.   2 Corinthians 5:6-10 6 Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. 9 Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.   GOSPEL   God is the source of all increase in goodness. God is the one who causes the seed of faith to grow. He is the one responsible for the conversion of all men and women. Sometimes we take on responsibilities that we do not have to bear. This is a big problem especially if it is a burden that only God can bear. We cannot hope to do the things that God is supposed to do. This will only result in disappointment.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to Him will live for ever.   Mark 4:26-34 26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.   think: God is the source of all increase in goodness.   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 2 Kings 10-12                                                                   SABBATH PAUSE My weekly time with God THANK YOU LIST Things to be grateful for from the past week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL NEEDS Things to ask God for in the coming week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ HIDDEN TREASURE Most important word God told me this week ________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________