1ST READING
It
seems that the Jews wanted the benefits of having God on their side but
were not willing to live a moral life. This is problematic as any
relationship, for it to work, should be a two-way street. It is not a
healthy relationship if it is all “give” on one side and all “take” on
the other. Amos is calling the people of Israel to conversion, and the
bottom line is, many of them do not want to take up the call.
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24
14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; then truly will the Lord, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! 15 Hate
evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; then it may be
that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of
Joseph. 21 I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the Lord, I take no pleasure in your solemnities; 22 your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your
stall-fed peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me burnt offerings, 24 then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
P S A L M
Psalm 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16-17
R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.” (R) 8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 10 “For mine are all the animals of the
forests, beasts by the thousand on my mountains. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.” (R) 12 “If I were hungry, I should not tell you, for mine are the world and its fullness. 13 Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls, or is the blood of goats my drink?” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your
mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R)
GOSPEL
What
is the significance of the miracles of Jesus where He drives demons out
of people? Is possession a real possibility? It is, but it is probably
not as common as some would make it out to be. Many phenomena we
experience can be traced back to natural causes, in particular
psychological ones. We need to be careful that we do not treat a natural
difficulty of a person with a solution for demonic possession. This
will not help anyone.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Matthew 8:28-34
28 When
Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were
coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could
travel by that road. 29 They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out,
send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And
he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and
the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they
drowned. 33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
think: Any relationship, for it to work, should be a two-way street.
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 1 Chronicles 28-29
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