Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls - Daily Bible Readings July 27,2013

1^ST READING

 

The “spilling” of blood in the Old Covenant helps us understand the nature of our commitment to God. It is not a joke to be committed to God. It is always a challenge and one that will always be an adventure as well. We should keep in mind that following God’s will is an exciting and challenging experience. It is something not to be missed; it is an experience that may change our lives forever.

 

Exodus 24:3-8

3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.” 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15

R: Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

1 God the Lord has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. (R) 5 “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. (R) 14“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; 15 Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Our lives are a mixture of weeds and wheat. None of us is perfect; none of us have removed all the sin from our lives. It is difficult to root out all the weeds. Have you ever tried to weed the newly sprouted seeds in a vegetable plot? If you have, then you will know what this parable is saying and you will realize what it means for pastoral ministry. Pastoral issues are always complicated and need to be approached carefully. Let us pray for the grace to do it well.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.                       

 

Matthew 13:24-30

24 Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

 

think:  Our lives are a mixture of weeds and wheat.

 

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 Judith13-16