Daily Bible Readings - August 21, 2012

1ST READING   Pride is an insidious sort of sin. Perhaps this is because it can be built on quite a legitimate basis, namely the accomplishment of a good act, but then becomes deflected from its true purpose when sinful pride begins to appropriate the glory for itself instead of offering it to God. This is why humility is so important. A humble person will never appropriate any glory for himself. He knows that the glory really belongs to God.   Ezekiel 28:1-10 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord God: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, “A God am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!” — And yet you are a man, and not a God, however you may think yourself like a God. 3 Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you. 4 By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself; you have put gold and silver into your treasuries. 5 By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches — 6 therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a God, 7 therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. 8 They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea. 9 Will you then say, “I am a God!” when you face your murderers? No, you are a man, not a God, handed over to those who will slay you. 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken, says the Lord God.   P S A L M   Deuteronomy 32:26-27, 27-28, 30, 35-36 R: It is I who deal death and give life. 26 “I would have said, ‘I will make an end of them and blot out their name from men’s memories,’ 27 Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies, feared that these foes would mistakenly boast.” (R) “‘Our own hand won the victory; the Lord had nothing to do with it.’ ” 28 For they are a people devoid of reason, having no understanding. (R) 30 “How could one man rout a thousand, or two men put ten thousand to flight, unless it was because their Rock sold them and the Lord delivered them up?” (R) 35 Close at hand is the day of their disaster and their doom is rushing upon them! 36 Surely, the Lord shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. (R)   GOSPEL   Riches and wealth can be a terrible burden for people because these distract them from the real business of living life. With wealth comes a great responsibility concerning its use. It is foolish to assume that just because we have earned our wealth it belongs to us alone. God gives us blessings in order that we share them with others.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.   Matthew 19:23-30 23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” 1st READING 2nd READING GOSPEL PSALM TODAY’S think: A humble person will never appropriate any glory from himself. He knows that the glory really belongs to God.   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 Job 30-33