Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him - Daily Bible Readings December 11,2013

1^ST READING

 

Experiences do not always reflect the underlying truth or reality of everyone involved. Two people can experience the same event in very different ways. This is why we must always have an open mind when we have conflicts with others. Their perception of an event may not be the same as ours. Let us seek always to listen first, have compassion second, and, in all things, to love. Let us try to leave judgments out of it altogether.

 

Isaiah 40:25-31

27 [25] To whom can you liken me as an equal? Says the Holy One. 28 [26] Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! 29 [27] Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 30 [28] Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. 31 [29] He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. 32 [30] Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, 33 [31] they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10

R: O bless the Lord, my soul!

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

Jesus wants to help us in our trials; He wants to unburden us of the yoke of the law that can weigh us down needlessly. The Law can become a burden when seen or experienced apart from the love of God. It will not serve us well if we experience it as a burden. Jesus wants to transform our perception of the law and help us to always see it in terms of the demands of love in our relationships with God and each other.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.

 

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

 

think:  The Law can become a burden when seen or experienced apart from the love of God.

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 Proverbs 28-31