Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it - Daily Bible Readings October 7,2014

1^ST READING

 

Paul does not hide the mistakes of his past life when proclaiming the Gospel. In fact, he uses them to his advantage by illustrating the stark difference between the old way of life and the new one that God’s grace can bring about. Let us be as cunning as Paul in the way we proclaim the Gospel. Let us do whatever it takes to convince people of the truth of the Gospel and its power to change lives for the better.

 

Galatians 1:13-24

13 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, 14 and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. 20 (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they glorified God because of me.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

R: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

Life is a balance between action and contemplation. Very few people are either a hundred percent of one or the other. It is thus important that we discover the right balance. There is no point in trying to be someone we are not. God’s grace and will is at work in each of our lives — the best thing to do is discover it and cooperate with it as best we can.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

 

Luke 10:38-42

38 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

 

think:  Life is a balance between action and contemplation. It is important that we discover the right balance.

 

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 Song of Songs 5-8