If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts - Daily Bible Readings October 4,2013

1^ST READING 

 

St. Francis of Assisi is probably the most popular saint after Mary, the Mother of God. He inspires people in many different ways but always with simplicity and conviction that is both attractive and infectious. It is important that we allow the grace of God to work in our lives. Francis is a great example of trusting in God, no matter what the situation might be.

 

Baruch 1:15-22

15 During the Babylonian captivity, the exiles prayed: “Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, 16 that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our ancestors, 17 have sinned in the Lord’s sight 18 and disobeyed him. We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God, nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us. 19 From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until the present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard his voice. 20 And the evils and the curse which the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant, at the time he led our ancestors forth from the land of Egypt to give us the land flowing with milk and honey, cling to us even today. 21 For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, 22 but each one of us went off after the devices of his own wicked heart, served other Gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 79:1-2, 3-5, 8, 9

R: For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the corpses of your servants as food to the birds of heaven, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth. (R) 3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them. 4 We have become the reproach of our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. 5 O Lord, how long? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? (R) 8 Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low. (R) 9 Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

We are all given numerous opportunities to respond to God’s call. I believe that these come to us every day. However, I also believe that the vast majority of humanity, including myself, is not properly disposed to hearing what God wants to say to us. We say we are too “busy” to pray, but in truth, you may be busy but you are the one who sets the priorities in your life. If you are not praying, it is because you are choosing not to pray for one reason or another.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Luke 10:13-16

13 Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

 

think:  If you are not praying, it is because you are choosing not to pray for one reason or another.

 

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 Daniel 13-14