1ST READING
This
is perhaps the most hope-filled passage in the Old Testament. In it we
read many of the characteristics the Jews believed would be part of the
Messiah’s ministry and life. These aspects are not just for Christ but
for all of us who seek to be His disciples and carry on the work of
evangelization until it is our turn to be called to heaven.
Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11
1 The
spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he
has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the
prisoners, 2 to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God. 10 I
rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he
has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of
justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels. 11 As
the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring
up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all
the nations.
P S A L M
Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
R: My soul rejoices in my God.
46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. (R) 49 The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. (R)
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy.” (R)
2ND READING
To
pray constantly means that our entire lives should be a prayer of
sacrifice and praise to Christ. This does not mean that we can avoid
praying in terms of setting aside a time for that purpose, but we must
still do this whatever we do with the rest of our lives. Paul knows that
it is in prayer that we are empowered by the grace of God. Is this what
you want for your life?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil. 23 May
the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely,
spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.
GOSPEL
The
prophets had been silent for over 300 years before John the Baptist
came to the scene. This is a very long time to go without any
encouragement and direction. Maybe the absence was part of God’s design
to make us hungrier for His Word, which was to come in the flesh in the
person of Jesus. Maybe it was simply because those who were called to be
prophets were not responding to their callings.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 19 And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he admitted and
did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Some Pharisees were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
think: Our entire lives should be a prayer of sacrifice and praise to Christ.
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 Hosea 6-10
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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