1ST READING
Following
Christ as a disciple will often lead us to experience persecution.
Being a disciple involves standing for the truth, and the truth is not
readily accepted by everyone. There will be times when we will have to
make an unpopular stand on an issue and will be persecuted because of
our beliefs. However, since Jesus Himself was fearless in speaking the
truth, as His disciples, we should also be.
Hebrews 10:32-39
32Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. 33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. 34 You
even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted
the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. 36You need endurance to
do the will of God and receive what he has promised. 37 “For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. 38 But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.” 39We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.
P S A L M
Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40
R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 5 Commit to the Lord your way; trust in Him, and He will act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. (R) 23 By the Lord are the steps of a man made firm, and He approves his way. 24 Though he falls, he does not lie prostrate, for the hand of the Lord sustains him. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the Lord; He is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (R)
GOSPEL
The
work of the Kingdom of God is primarily His work. We are the
instruments He uses today to proclaim the Gospel, but the work of
conversion that happens in peoples’ hearts is the work of the Holy
Spirit. Let us pray for the grace to be faithful in proclaiming what God
has done in our lives, and so be an inspiration to others as to what is
possible when we place our lives in the merciful hands of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
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:
We are the instruments He uses today to proclaim the Gospel, but the
work of conversion that happens in peoples’ hearts is the work of the
Holy Spirit.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ___________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_________
____________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Acts 13-16
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