Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart - Daily Bible Readings September 1,2013

1ST READING   Pride is an insidious reality that eats away at a person’s life like cancer. It is something that we must avoid at all costs if we are serious about being disciples of Jesus. As we seek to give our lives to Christ and work in His Kingdom, let us remember that it is only possible because of the grace of God and it is He who should get the glory, not us.   Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 17 My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. 18 Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. 20 What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not. 28 The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise. 29 Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.   P S A L M   Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 R: God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. 3 [4] The just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. 4 [5] Sing to God, chant praise to his name, whose name is the Lord . (R) 5 [6] The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. 6 [7] God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. (R) 9 [10] A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; 10 [11]your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. (R)   2ND READING   Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity. It is through Him alone that anyone can be saved and receive the gift of eternal life. We can share in Jesus’ mediation by being His disciple, but even so, He remains the one, true mediator of salvation. Yes, we can pray to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, but the grace of salvation is always mediated through Jesus Christ.   Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 18 Brothers and sisters: You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm 19 and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. 22 No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, 23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.   GOSPEL   The opposite of pride is humility, and humility has a lot to do with truth. It is true that none of us are worthy to stand in the presence of God. It is grace alone that allows us to do that. Likewise, today’s parable reminds us that we should never assume that we are more important than anyone else in the room. God’s ways of looking at life are not necessarily the same as the world’s. Let us be humble so that we can move up a seat rather than risk being told to vacate a seat for someone else.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.   Luke 14:1, 7-14 1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 13Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”   think:  As we seek to give our lives to Christ and work in His Kingdom, let us remember that it is only possible because of the grace of 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 Jeremiah 1-3                                                                                                        SABBATH PAUSE My weekly time with God THANK YOU LIST Things to be grateful for from the past week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL NEEDS Things to ask God for in the coming week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ HIDDEN TREASURE Most important word God told me this week                                                                ________________________________________________________________                                                                                ________________________________________________________________LIST R