1ST READING
Eventually
David realizes that it is not his calling to build a physical house for
the Lord. It will be his son, Solomon, who will get the task of
building the Temple. Yet, Nathan continues to speak of the House of
David. What does this mean? It means that the Messiah will be linked to
the House of David. And it is the Lord who will make this happen, not
David or any of his descendants.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
1 When King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies on every side, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” 3 Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and said 5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build me a house to dwell in? 8 It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. 9 I
have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your
enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of
the earth. 10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may
dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 11 since the time I first appointed
judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your
enemies. The Lord also reveals to you that he will establish a house for
you. 12 And
when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up
your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
P S A L M
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
R: For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
1 [2] The promises of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. 2 [3] For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. (R) 3 [4] “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 4 [5] forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations. 26 [27] He shall say of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.’ 28 [29] Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm.” (R)
SECOND READING
All
glory and honor belongs to Jesus. This can be a very hard thing to
accept since we all like a bit of glory from time to time. There is
nothing wrong with celebrating our achievements as long as we remember
that it is only by the grace of God that they are possible. Let us be
humble enough to move under God’s grace so that our lives will always
give glory to Him.
Romans 16:25-27
25 Brothers
and sisters: To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and
the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
mystery kept secret for long ages 26 but
now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the
command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the
obedience of faith, 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL
Mary
knows that what God asks of her is impossible without His grace. She is
very clear in saying that God should do what He wants to do and not
what she thinks might be best. Do we have the humility of Mary to both
believe and act upon this simple little truth? It is essential that we
do this if we want to be a part of any lasting work in the Kingdom of
God. If we rely on our own strength, we will eventually discover
something that is impossible to do.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
Luke 1:26-38
26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can
this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And
the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And
behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old
age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the
handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
think:
There is nothing wrong with celebrating our achievements as long as we
remember that it is only by the grace of God that they are possible.
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 Micah 1-3
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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