Daily Bible Readings - October 2, 2012

 1^ST READING

 

In John’s Gospel, Jesus promises us that He will not leave us orphans. This is usually interpreted as a promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is also fulfilled in another way. Each of us has at least one guardian angel — an angel sent to care for us and do battle for us particularly in the spiritual realm. This does not mean no harm will ever befall us. It does mean that there is always a way to come closer to Jesus no matter what is happening in our lives. The guardian angels are God’s way of assuring us that He cares for us.

 

Exodus 23:20-23 (or Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23)

20 Thus says the Lord: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have  prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. 22 If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. 23 “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 91:1-2, 3-4, 4-6, 10-11 (or Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8)

R: The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 Say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield. 5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day; 6 not the pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at noon. (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Trust is the key to knowing the power of God at work in our lives. We need to learn to entrust everything to God. We have to let go of our need to be in control and let God lead and guide our ways and choices. Children, compared to adults, have a characteristic and implicit trust in their parents no matter what the circumstances may be. We need to learn to be like this with God.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Bless the Lord, all you angels, your ministers, who do his will.

 

Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (or Luke 9:51-56)

1 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

 

think: We have to let go of our need to be in control and let God lead and guide our ways and choices.

 

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 Ecclesiastes 1-4