Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him - Daily Bible Readings December 2,2015

1ST READING     Isaiah prophesies a time when death will be stripped of its power over us. This is God’s incredible promise. He delivered this promise when He raised Jesus from the dead. This promise sees its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ. The consummation comes with the resurrection. Do you know the significance of the Incarnation? Do you live in this reality or is your life still captive to the ways of sin and death?   Isaiah 25:6-10 6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; 8 he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. 9 On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” 10 For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.   P S A L M   Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5-6 R: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)   GOSPEL     Jesus revealed a power for His ministry that the world has never experienced before. That power is still at work today. Jesus is no less at work in the world today than He ever has been in history. The grace and power for conversion and holiness are there for us, but only if we are willing to use them. We have to use the gifts God has given us instead of lamenting any perceived lack of power of God in our lives.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.   Matthew 15:29-37 29 At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. 30 Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. 31 The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” 35 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over — seven baskets full.   think: Jesus revealed a power for His ministry that the world has never experienced before. That power is still at work today.   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 Ezekiel 25-28