Daily Bible Readings - February 29, 2012

1^st READING

 

God is a God of mercy and compassion. He is also reluctant to exclude anyone from the life of grace He desires for us. Yet He will not force anyone against their will. He wants us to choose to love Him. Love that is not freely chosen is not love at all. Jesus knows this from His own choices as a human being in remaining obedient to His Father’s will despite the suffering it involved.

 

Jonah 3:1-10

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” 3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’S bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” 5 when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. 7 Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 8 Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. 9 Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” 10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 16 [18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

BLESSING

LIST

Repentance is the greatest sign we can give to an unbelieving generation. Unbelievers cannot understand repentance because it makes no sense to them as they do not have a concept of sin that demands conversion. This is one of the reasons why it can be so difficult to proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers. For the same reason this is why it is important that we live the fullness of our Christian lives in order to win unbelievers over to our way of life.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.

 

Luke 11:29-32

29 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. 30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. 32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

 

 

BL 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 Hebrews 5-8

Daily Bible Readings - February 28, 2012

1^st READING

 

Isaiah prophesied that God’s will and word do not return without accomplishing their intention. Sometimes it may be difficult for us to see how this is true, but in faith we must learn to trust in the promises of God, or all will be lost. Jesus never said it would be easy or that we would always understand everything. I suppose this is why we call it a life of faith.

 

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11 So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R: From all their distress God rescues the just.

3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 15 [16] The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 18 [19] The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

It is not the words of our prayers that are important but the intentions and conviction with which we pray them. Words come easily and may represent very beautiful and noble ideals. However, if we do not put them into practice daily, they mean nothing. Jesus, You tell us in John’s Gospel that they will know we are Christians by the love we have for each other (John 13:35). Help me to live the truths I both believe and proclaim.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

 

Matthew 6:7-15

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us  this day our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

 

think: It is not the words of our prayers that are important but the intentions and conviction with which we pray them.

 

 

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Hebrews 1-4

Daily Bible Readings - February 27, 2012

1^st READING

 

We hear an echo of this call to holiness in chapter 6 of Luke’s Gospel. In the Old Testament we find a focus on the numerous social injustices present in Jewish society. The Law tries to address these injustices but we are all aware of the deviousness of humanity – we simply find a way of bending the laws to suit our position. This is why conversion of heart is so essential. Unless we truly seek to live a holy life, sin will get the better of us most of the time when temptation comes our way.

 

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. 11 You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. 12 You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. 13 You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. 15 You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. 16 You shall not go about spreading slander among your kinsmen; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. 17 You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. 18 Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 14 [15] Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Once again we are presented with the challenge to ensure that our lives meaningfully speak of the values we proclaim when we call ourselves Christians. It is not going to be easy to live up to the high standard Jesus sets for us, but if we lower the standards and settle for second-best, what we are doing is giving in to sin and mediocrity. Let us seek the higher calling and embrace the cost of discipleship as it will bring us to the gift of eternal life.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

 

Matthew 25:31-46

31 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ 44 Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ 45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ 46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

think: Let us seek the higher calling and embrace the cost of discipleship as it will bring us the gift of eternal life.

 

 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 Titus and Philemon

9-21

Daily Bible Readings - February 26, 2012

1^st READING

 

God promises Noah that He will never send a flood like this one again. It is a promise we need to consider, as it reveals to us that God desires the best for us in an unequivocal way. Sin is the flood that threatens our existence; the resurrection is the power that will roll back the flood. God promised not to send a destructive flood to fight sin. He sent His Son to die for us and put an end to the power of sin and death.

 

Genesis 9:8-15

8 God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. 11 I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” 12 God added: “This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: 13 I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall Never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old. 7 In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R)

 

 

2^nd READING

 

Peter is reflecting upon the nature of baptism in this text. Through baptism we enter into the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is in baptism that we are reborn into a new life. Eternal life is beckoning to us through the generous offer of Jesus. Are we going to accept it or consign ourselves to being a footnote in history because of either our pride or sheer stupidity?

 

 

1 Peter 3:18-22

18 Beloved: Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. 19 In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, 20 who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. 21 This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus spent some time in the desert reflecting upon the seriousness of the mission He was about to begin. The Gospel of Luke describes a number of temptations. After coming back to civilization the ministry of the Gospel began with full intent. He knew that the message He had to bring to the world was a watershed moment for human history; the news of the coming salvation of humanity could be nothing less.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

 

Mark 1:12-15

12 The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, 13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. 14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

 

think: Eternal life is beckoning us through the generous offer of Jesus.

 

 

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 2 Timothy 1-4

N                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               19-21 SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

 

Daily Bible Readings - February 24, 2012

1^st READING

 

The type of fasting that most pleases the Lord is when we are obedient to His will, that is, when we fast from placing our own wills in precedence to His will. Practicing this discipline takes a lot of sacrifice because it often means letting go of the things we enjoy and would rather do, and embrace a life that is focused on growing in holiness and obedience to God.

Isaiah 58:1-9

1 Thus says the Lord God: Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 They seek me day after day, and desire to  know my ways, like a nation that has done what is just and not abandoned the law of their God; they ask me to declare what is due them, pleased to gain access to God. 3 “Why do we fast, and you do not see it? Afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. 4 Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! 5 Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance that a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 This, rather, is the fasting that I wish releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; 7 sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; yourvindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry

for help, and he will say: Here I am!

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19

R: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 16 [18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

The most important aspect of fasting is the intention we have behind performing this act of penance. Fasting may be a useful thing in living a healthier way of life, but the spiritual gain from fasting has a lot to do with our intention when we fast. Motivation can be a tricky thing to measure so let us pray for the grace of the Spirit to purify our motivations in all that we do, and thus, help us keep our lives on the true path to eternal life.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you.

 

Matthew 9:14-15

14 The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

think: The type of fasting that most pleases the Lord is when we are obedient to His will.NG

 

 

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 Timothy 1-3nd READ

Daily Bible Readings - February 25, 2012

1^st READING

 

It is usually the poor who suffer most from the injustices of society for two main reasons. The first is that they are the least able to weather storms of adversity as they do not have ready access to the resources they need to do so. Secondly, they are least able to fight an injustice. The Church and all people of faith have a duty to fight for those least able to defend and support themselves. Let us seek to live just lives, helping others along the way to a better life themselves.

 

Isaiah 58:9-14

9 Thus says the Lord: If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; 10 If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; 11 then the Lord will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. 12 The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” 13 If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight, and the Lord’s holy day honorable; if you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice — 14 Then you shall delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

1 Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. 2 Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. 3 You are my God. (R) Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (R) 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus calls everyone to follow Him, even the outcasts of society and its sinners. Tax collectors were considered traitors by the Jews because they enforced Roman oppression upon Jews. The taxes levied were quite onerous. This does not stop Jesus from naming a tax collector among the Twelve. This indicates quite clearly that we are not to judge anyone by their past life. What is important is whether or not we are presently responding to the grace of God.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

 

Luke 5:27-32

27 Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. 29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

 

think: Jesus calls everyone to follow Him, even the outcasts of society and its sinners.

 

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 Timothy 4-6nd READING

Daily Bible Readings - February 23, 2012

1^st READING

 

A true faith life is always about the choices we make; it is all about the priorities we have in life. We can talk about being committed to God’s will, but if we do not make the choices to actually put such talk into practice, then it means nothing. Talk is cheap and easy; action is where we pay the price for our beliefs.

 

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. 17 If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other Gods, 18 I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. 19 I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the Lord swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

 

P S A L M

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6

R: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, 2 but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. (R) 3 He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers. (R) 4 Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

We can spend our entire lives seeking the pleasures of the world and it will not satisfy our hunger for meaning in our lives. True meaning and satisfaction will only come when we accept the will of God for our lives and follow it. This is what the saints realized and focused on. It is not easy, but then the good things in life rarely come to us without a cost.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

LIST

2 Thessalonians 1-3

Luke 9:22-25

22 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

 

 

think: True meaning and satisfaction will come when we accept the will of God for our lives and follow it.

 

 

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 2 Thessalonians 1-3nd READING

Daily Bible Readings - February 21, 2012

1^st READING

 

James wants to remind His listeners that we need to actively avoid any self-promotion when it comes to our service in the Kingdom of God. It is essential that we remain humble and meek at all times in order to never allow pride any place in our lives. Pride is one of the biggest enemies of the Gospel since, to receive the gift of salvation, one must humbly ask it from Jesus. If we are too proud, we will think it is beneath us to ask for anyone’s help for anything.

 

James 4:1-10

1 Beloved: Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? 2 You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. 3 You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks without meaning when it says, “The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy”? 6 But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. 9 Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 55:7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 23

R: Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

6 [7] And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest. 7 [8] Far away I would flee; I would lodge in the wilderness.” (R) 8 [9] “I would wait for him who saves me from the violent storm and the tempest.” 9 [10] Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels. (R) In the city I see violence and strife, 10 [11] day and night they prowl about upon its walls. (R) 22 [23] Cast your care upon the Lord, and he will support you; never will he permit the just man to be disturbed. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

I wonder what it would have been like to know that you were going to die a violent death even though you were innocent of all sin. It is one thing to go to war with the knowledge that this is dangerous; it would be totally different to know you will die through no fault of your own. Such a reflection only serves to make me more impressed in the humility and love that Jesus manifested on the cross. Hopefully, we can imitate His empathy and compassion more faithfully.

 

LIST

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

 

Mark 9:30-37

30 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. 33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”

 

think: Pride is one of the biggest enemies of the Gospel since, to receive the gift of salvation, one must humbly ask for it from Jesus.

 

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 Colossians 1-4nd READIN

Daily Bible Readings - February 18, 2012

1^st READING

 

If we teach someone to do something wrong we become partially responsible for their sin. This is why Jesus warns that teachers of the Gospel can expect a harsher judgment than those who are not. Whether it is right or not, teachers and ministers of religion are held to a higher standard than the rest of the people. Let us see this as a blessing to inspire us to greater fidelity to God.

 

James 3:1-10

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, 2for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 4 It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. 5 In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. 6 The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this need not be so.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 12:2-3, 4-5, 7-8

R: You will protect us, Lord.

1 [2] Help, O Lord! for no one now is dutiful; faithfulness has vanished from among the children of men. 2 [3] Everyone speaks falsehood to his neighbor; with smooth lips they speak, and double heart. (R) 3 [4] May the Lord destroy all smooth lips, every boastful tongue, 4 [5] those who say, “We are heroes with our tongues; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us?” (R) 6 [7] The promises of the Lord are sure, like tried silver, freed from dross, sevenfold refined. 7 [8] You, O Lord, will keep us and preserve us always from this generation. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

The Transfiguration of Jesus reminds us of Jesus’ origins being in God. This remarkable epiphany stands in a long line of epiphanies through history. God chooses to reveal Himself to us in mysterious ways. Perhaps this is to protect us from understanding Him too well and so becoming presumptive about His love for us. Presumption is a major problem in virtually every place where it rears its ugly head.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.

 

Mark 9:2-13

2 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

LIST

think: God chooses to reveal Himself to us in mysterious ways.

 

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 Ephesians 1-3 s 1-4READING 2nd READING

 

Ephesians 1-3