Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom - Daily Bible Readings January 31,2014

1^ST READING                                                                           

 

David is not perfect. He, too, is a flawed man. He lusts after Bathsheba and is led into serious sin that culminates in the death of Bathsheba’s husband. When he realizes his sin, he is incredibly sorry and tradition tells us that Psalm 51 is a result. Read the psalm and see what it means to have a repentant heart. It is good to reflect on the nature of true repentance as we all have reason to repent, and should do so every day.

 

2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17

1 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. 3 David had inquiries made about the woman and wastold, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armorbearer, Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. 5But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” 6 David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. 8 David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. On the day following, 13David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” 16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. 17 When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 10-11

R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

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) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. 5 [7] True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. (R) 8 [10] Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed shall rejoice. 9 [11] Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. (R)

 

 

GOSPEL

 

God is the one who brings increase and growth to His Kingdom. It is up to us to be obedient to His will but there is very little, if anything, that we can achieve on our own strength. God needs us to be His “hands and feet,” so to speak, but the most important aspect is the will of God. Obedience to the grace of God is an essential aspect of discipleship and, thus, a prime focus for our faith.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 

Mark 4:26-34

26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

 

think:  Obedience to the grace of God is an essential aspect of discipleship and, thus, a prime focus for our faith.

 

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 Acts 13-16

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path - Daily Bible Readings January 30,2014

1^ST READING

 

David recognizes that he is merely the instrument of the Lord in all that he has done in establishing Israel as a great power among the nations. He recognizes that it is God who has built a house, nay a kingdom, for him and that his proper attitude should be one of gratitude towards His goodness to him. Let us never lose sight of the need for humility. It is the virtue that will make our talents and gifts coherent as we serve the Lord.

 

2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29

18 After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point? 19 Yet even this you see as too little, Lord God; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord God! 24 “You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. 25 And now, Lord God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised. 26 Your name will be forever great, when men say, ‘The Lord of hosts is God of Israel,’ and the house of your  servant David stands firm before you. 27 It is you, Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you. 28 And now, Lord God, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. 29Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord God, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14

R: The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

1 Lord, remember David all his anxious care; 2 how he swore an oath to the Lord, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob. (R) 3 “I will not enter the house I live, nor lie on the couch where I sleep; 4 I will give my eyes no sleep my eyelids no rest, 5 till I find a home for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (R) 11 The Lord swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.” (R) 12 “If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.” (R) 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion, he prefers her for his dwelling. 14“Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

The nature of the Gospel is such that the more we give, the more we will receive. This is very easy to understand when we accept that God is a generous God. He wants to see His blessings and graces shared, so when He finds someone like Himself who is willing to share everything, He blesses him even more as He knows that none of the blessings will go to waste. This is what it means to be a person “after the heart of the Lord.”

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

 

Mark 4:21-25

21 Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. 23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” 24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

 

think:  God wants to see His blessings and graces shared, so when He finds someone like Himself who is willing to share everything, He blesses him even more.

 

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 Acts 9-12

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever - Daily Bible Readings January 29,2014

1^ST READING

 

David is a warrior — his hands are full of blood. He has done enough. God will direct his son, Solomon, in the building of the Temple. This may have been a great disappointment to David — we are not told what he thinks of this — but David accepts the decision of God. We, too, need to find the humility to accept that, no matter how competent we may be, we cannot do everything. Thus, we need the help of others to be faithful to God’s call in our lives.

 

2 Samuel 7:4-17

4 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? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the present, but I have been going about in a tent under cloth. 7 In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 8 “Now then, speak thus to my servant David, ‘The Lord of hosts has this to say: 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. 13 It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements; 15 but I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor Saul, whom I removed from my presence. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’” 17Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30

R: Forever I will maintain my love for my servant.

3 [4] “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 [5] I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.” (R) 26 [27] “He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the rock that brings me victory!’ 27 [28] I myself make him first-born, Most High over the kings of the earth.” (R) 28 [29] “Forever I will maintain my love for him, my covenant with him stands firm. 29 [30] I will establish his dynasty forever, his throne as the days of heavens.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Parables may have a simple central theme but their application can be as varied as the number of people who spend time reflecting on them. Let us give the Holy Spirit room to move in our minds and hearts as we seek the meaning of various Scripture passages for us. Do not come to a text with a preconceived idea of what it says but be open to a new understanding of what God might want to reveal to you today.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.

 

Mark 4:1-20

1 On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. 2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 3 “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” 10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. 11 He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, 12 so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’” 13 Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. 17 But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, 19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 20 But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

LIST

think: We need to find the humility to accept that, no matter how competent we may be, we cannot do everything.

 

 

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 Acts 5-8

 

Let us resolve to make an effort to ask God at the beginning of each day what He wants us to do - Daily Bible Readings January 28,2014

1^ST READING                                                           

 

David rejoices unashamedly in victories that the Lord wins for His people. Today is the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen. His way of rejoicing in the Lord takes a different form. He writes, seeking greater understanding of the ways of God and man. It is important that the Church encourages such reflection as it adds to our knowledge of God and enables us to understand and follow His will as individuals and as a Church.

 

2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19

12 David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities. 13 As soon as the bearers of the ark of the Lord had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon, 15 as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn. 17 The ark of the Lord was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R: Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord!

7 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 8 Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. (R) 9 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 10 Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

The theme of God’s will constantly recurs in the teachings of Jesus. This may not be a surprise to us when we think about it, but I wonder: how much time and energy do we put in trying to discover God’s will for us? Let us turn this anomaly around and resolve to make an effort to ask God at the beginning of each day what He wants us to do.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 

Mark 3:31-35

31 The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside they sent word to Jesus and called him. 32 A crowd seated around him told him,  “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.”33 But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

LIST

think:  Let us resolve to make an effort to ask God at the beginning of each day what He wants us to do.

 

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 Acts 1-4

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel - Daily Bible Readings January 27,2014

1^ST READING

 

The phrase at the end of today’s reading, “The Lord of hosts,” indicates that the power of God was with David. This is very important to a people who seem to be constantly at war. This makes David an attractive proposition for the King of Israel and this is what the people eventually accept. He will reign as king for a long time. Remember, life expectancy was probably not much more than 25 to 30 years at the time. Israel becomes a mighty nation under David’s rule.

 

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10

1 All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh. 2 In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the children of Israel out and brought them back. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’” 3 When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the Lord, and they anointed him king of Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years: 5 seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah. 6 Then the king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, “You cannot enter here: the blind and the lame will drive you away!” which was their way of saying, “David cannot enter here.” 7 But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. 10 David grew steadily more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 25-26

R: My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

19 [20] Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.” (R) 24 [25] “My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 [26] I will set his hand upon the sea, his right hand upon the rivers.” (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus affirms that we need to promote and treasure unity within our communities. When a community is divided for whatever reason, it is very difficult to achieve much. Unity means that we are able to share our resources and talents for the common goal of living and proclaiming the Gospel. This is our highest calling; this is the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

 

Mark 3:22-30

22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” 23 Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. 28 Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” 30 For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

BLESSING

LIST

think:  Unity means that we are able to share our resources and talents for the common goal of living and proclaiming the Gospel.

 

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 Mark 13-16

 

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people - Daily Bible Readings January 26,2014

1ST READING   Light is essential for sight; without it, it is impossible to see. Similarly, truth is essential for knowledge because if it is not true, then there is no knowledge at all. The Scriptures provide us with the ultimate source of truths for knowledge of salvation. We should familiarize ourselves with the Word of God as often as we can. Time spent with the Scriptures is never wasted time.   Isaiah 8:23–9:3 23 First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. 9: 1 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. 2 You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. 3 For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.   P S A L M Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 R: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)   2ND READING   Our faith is not about competing with anybody else. Each of us has a role to play in the plan and mind of God and that should be our focus. No one else can be the person that God has created us to be. It is up to the individual to embrace his or her call and be faithful to it. The expression of each of our lives will be different and, in my opinion, this is a good thing as it would be very boring if we were all the same.   1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. 12 I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.   GOSPEL   Jesus calls simple fishermen to be His first disciples. He will also call a tax collector and many other not-so-eminent members of society. Why didn’t He choose the rich and powerful? I think Jesus wants to make the point that it is not one’s status in the world that matters but the willingness to hear and follow God’s will. It may be easier for those who are less attached to the world to follow God’s calling. Whatever the case, it gives us hope that Jesus chooses those who are willing to be chosen to be His disciples.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.   Matthew 4:12-23 12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” 17 From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 23 He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.   think:  It is not one’s status in the world that matters but the willingness to hear and follow God’s will.   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 Mark 9-12                                                                                                          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   ________________________________________________________________                                                           _________________________________________________________________

Any form of conversion involves renouncing a past way of life in order to embrace the new - Daily Bible Readings January 25,2014

1^ST READING

 

Paul is a very honest chap. One of the best qualities of a good leader is that he or she is willing to admit his or her mistakes. There is no doubt that Paul does this, in such a way as to encourage those who have made a similar mistake to follow him in correcting it. Any form of conversion involves renouncing a past way of life in order to embrace the new. Let us always go deeper in our relationship with God.

 

Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)

3 Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. 5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. 6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ 9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ 11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. 12 A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; 15 for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. 16Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,calling upon his name.’”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 117:1, 2

R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

There is little doubt that Paul had heard from oral sources this or a similar story commanding us to go forth and baptize. It is important that we hear this command and act on it. At the heart of knowing the Good News must be the willingness to go out and share it with others, primarily by the way we live — and only in word if necessary. Paul is an inspiration in this regard. Let us imitate his zeal for the Kingdom of God.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

 

Mark 16:15-18

15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 

think:  Any form of conversion involves renouncing a past way of life in order to embrace the new.

 

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 Mark 5-8