Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults - Daily Bible Readings April 14,2014

1ST READING   The Servant Songs of Isaiah, of which today’s First Reading is one, are worth a few moments of reflection as they can give us insight into the nature of Jesus’ passion and death. There is nothing more important to us as Christians than the means by which we were redeemed. This is why we need to understand it as well as we can. Let us resolve to open our hearts in a deeper way this Holy Week in order to strengthen our understanding and faith in what Jesus has done for us.   Isaiah 42:1-7 1 Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, 2 not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, 4 until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it. 6 I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.   P S A L M   Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 R: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 2 When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies themselves stumble and fall. (R) 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)   GOSPEL     There are times to celebrate and honor people; there are times to get down and do the work that faith and love demand of us. Sometimes we might think that resources can be better used than in extravagant celebrations of our faith. However, Jesus makes it very clear that there are times when we should celebrate His love with others and we should not be ashamed to do that.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our faults.   John 12:1-11 1 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 11 because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.   think:  Jesus makes it very clear that there are times when we should celebrate His love with others and we should not be ashamed to do that.   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 Leviticus 10-12