I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life - Daily Bible Readings February 9,2014

1^ST READING

 

 

 

God is not interested in ideas unless they lead to action. Listen to Isaiah’s words: “Share your bread … shelter the homeless,” etc. It is essential for true faith to lead to action. This can be a struggle for many as they might think that faith is all about saying prayers and going to Mass. Prayer and the life of the sacraments are not the end of faith, but the means by which we put our faith into action.

 

Isaiah 58:7-10

7 Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; 10 if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) 6 He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. (R) 8 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear. 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

 

 

2^nd READING

 

 

Paul does not claim to be a great orator. However, he does claim to know the truth about Jesus, the Messiah of the human race. He knows he has something to share that is important and he is not going to allow any deficiency in his speaking capacity to hinder his desire to share it. Thank God that he was not concerned about making a fool of himself or else many people would not have heard the Gospel.

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

 

GOSPEL

 

Spices are used in cooking food. The same is true in the Christian life — without the truth of the Gospel, the witness of our lives will be ineffective in furthering the work of the Kingdom of God. Each of us, through prayer and study of God’s Word, must seek to “spice” up our witness to the faith with the truths of the Gospel so that we can speak into the societies in which we live and make a difference.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

 

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

 

think: Without the truth of the Gospel, the witness of our lives will be ineffective in furthering the work of the Kingdom 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 1 Corinthians 5-8

                                                                                                        SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

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SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

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HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

 

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