Daily Bible Readings - January 3,2013

1^ST READING

 

Pope Benedict’s second encyclical is a brilliant exposition on the nature of Christian hope. It is worth reading and reflecting on — it is relatively easy to read and understand, too. Here is one of the guiding principles of Christian hope: It is a promised reality as Jesus has already won for us the victory.

 

1 John 2:29-3:6

29 If you consider that God is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him. 3: 1 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. 3 Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. 4 Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 98:1, 3-4, 5-6

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

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) 3 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) 5 Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

There are three big-time defenses against the work of Satan in our lives: the cross, the blood and the name of Jesus. Everything comes back to these three aspects of the victory of Christ in the end. Today, we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus. Let us ask the Spirit of God to help us understand the power of the invocation of the name of Jesus, not just that we will respect it properly and avoid invoking it blasphemously, but so that we will draw every help we can from the great gift that it is to every disciple of Jesus.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.

 

John 1:29-34

29 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 30 He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” 32 John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. 33 I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

 

think: Let us ask the Spirit of God to help us understand the power of the invocation of the name of Jesus.

 

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 John 7-9