You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father! - Daily Bible Readings October 9,2013

1^ST READING

 

God’s character is very difficult to describe. Maybe we should not even try to do it. Jonah has a go here and does a pretty good job, in my opinion. Let us pray that we can deepen our understanding of all the aspects he mentions — mercy, love, kindness, etc. It is crucial that we know their role in our lives, especially if we are going to share them with others.

 

Jonah 4:1-11

1 Jonah was greatly displeased, and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh. 2 He prayed, “I beseech you, Lord, is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I fled at first to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency, loathe to punish. 3 And now, Lord, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord asked, “Have you reason to be angry?” 5 Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it, where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade, to see what would happen to the city. 6 And when the Lord God provided a gourd plant, that grew up over Jonah’s head, giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort, Jonah was very happy over the plant. 7 But the next morning at dawn God sent a worm which attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind; and the sun beat upon Jonah’s head till he became faint. Then Jonah asked for death, saying, “I would be better off dead than alive.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Have you reason to be angry over the plant?” “I have reason to be angry,” Jonah answered, “angry enough to die.” 10 Then the Lord said, “You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. 11 And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?”

 

P A S T E L

 

Psalm 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10

R: Lord, you are merciful and gracious.

3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (R) 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (R) 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, and glorify your name. 10 For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus often retires to a lonely place to pray. He seems to want to focus on His prayers without distraction. This is a good lesson for us. Yes, it is important that we pray in all situations and places, but there is a quality to undistracted prayer that is very important. We must seek to facilitate our experience of quiet prayer, where we can reflect on our relationship with God in silence and peace. Go on, give it a try!

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!

 

Luke 11:1-4

1 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

think:  There is a quality to quiet, undistracted prayer that is very important.

 

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 Amos 1-3