Daily Bible Readings - November 29,2012

1^ST READING

 

Thank God that victory and glory and power belong to Him! I only wish that at times it would be more manifest in my life and in the world. Sin is a tragedy and scandal that we can do something about — conversion of heart. We need to take the values of the Gospel fully and completely.

 

Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9

1 I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by his splendor. 2 He cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a haunt for demons. She is a cage for every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean bird, a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast. 21 A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea and said: “With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down, and will never be found again. 22 No melodies of harpists and musicians, flutists and trumpeters, will ever be heard in you again. No craftsmen in any trade will ever be found in you again. No sound of the millstone will ever be heard in you again. 23 No light from a lamp will ever be seen in you again. No voices of bride and groom will ever be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion.” 19: 1 After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 They said a second time: “Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.” 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5

R: Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 2 serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name. (R) 5 For he is good: the Lord, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

These images of Armageddon are the best our author can come up with to describe the final victory of God over sin and death. It is a simple message of hope to suffering and persecuted Churches that their faithfulness will be rewarded in the end. They may seem to lose the battle in this world as they become martyrs but they will be vindicated in the end with a life of glory. This is why it is so important to fix our eyes on the promise of eternal life when we are struggling with sin.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

 

Luke 21:20-28

20 Jesus said to his disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

1st READING 2nd READING

think: It is so important to fix our eyes on the promise of eternal life when we are struggling with sin.

 

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 17-20

Daily Bible Readings - November 28,2012

1^ST READING

 

There will be a lot of suffering as we seek to follow the Gospel, not because God ordains it from above but because the effects of our sins are allowed to run their course. It bothers me a lot when people talk about the suffering of nations and large groups of innocent people as somehow their fault. This is only partially true. We all share in the responsibility of much of the structural sin in the world because we are all sinners and we have all contributed something to the existence of these structures even if it is only not actively working to reform them.

 

Revelation 15:1-4

1 I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for through them God’s fury is accomplished. 2 Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name. They were holding God’s harps, 3 and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 7-8, 9

R: Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) 7 Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; 8 let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy. (R) 9 Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth; he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus affirms that we will all have the opportunity to speak out against injustice. Some will have it in the large public forum; others will not, but we will all have the opportunity to do so. Let us seek the grace to take this responsibility seriously. If we are not actively working against the corruption of sin in our society, we are contributing to it through our silence. All that evil needs to flourish is for a good person to remain silent.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

Luke 21:12-19

12 Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

 

think: All that evil needs to flourish is for a good person to remain silent.

 

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 13-16

Daily Bible Readings - November 27,2012

1^ST READING

 

There is no winepress of God’s anger. God is angry when it comes to sin but His response to sin was to send Jesus to be our Savior, not to destroy us. Hell is a possibility but there is no way that we can know whether or not there is anyone in Hell. God does not send people to Hell; they choose to go there by refusing to accept the offer of God’s mercy in their lives. It is not a good choice but we are all free to make it.

 

Revelation 14:14-19

14 I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” 16 So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R: The Lord comes to judge the earth.

10 Say among the nations: The Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R) 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. (R) 13 Before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. (R)        

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus tells us that there will be war and suffering before His second coming to bring judgment to the world. He does not give us a means by which we can ascertain what date that will be. Elsewhere in the Gospels He clearly states that only the Father knows the appointed time. The challenge we face is to be prepared for Christ’s second coming whatever time that may occur. This is why the call to holiness is central to our Christian lifestyle.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

BLESSING

LIST

Ezekiel 9-12

Luke 21:5-11

5 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, 6 “All that you see here — the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” 7 Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 8 He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! 9 When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

TODAY’S

BLESSING

think: God does not send people to hell; they choose to go there by refusing to accept the offer of God’s mercy in their lives.

 

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 9-12

Daily Bible Readings - November 26,2012

1^ST READING

 

This text does not mean that only 144,000 people will get into heaven. Neither does this mean that there is a place for an elite 144,000 people in heaven. There are crazy sects and supposedly Christian groups who support one or the other of these interpretations. The number is comprised by multiplying 12 x 12 x 1,000. In Hebrew, 12 has a certain completeness or fullness to it, hence the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 Apostles. All this is saying is that the complete number of people will go to heaven.

 

Revelation 14:1-3, 4-5

1 I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and fortyfour thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. 5 On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Every Christian has a moral responsibility to support the ministers of the Church as well as the various church organizations. How much is one supposed to give? That is up to the individual, at least to some extent according to their means, but also working on the principle of generosity.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

 

Luke 21:1-4

1 When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury 2 and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. 3 He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; 4 for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Ezekiel 5-8

LIST

think: Every Christian has a moral responsibility to support the ministers of the Church as well as the various church organizations.

 

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 5-8

Daily Bible Readings - November 25,2012

1^ST READING

 

When Jesus comes in glory, He will come as King of the universe. When we try to visualize the glory with which Jesus will arrive, the sky is the limit. There will be no more doubt in anyone’s mind that Jesus is Lord. We will all bow down and kneel before Him and exalt Him as Lord of All.

 

Daniel 7:13-14

13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, 14 the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations and language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5

R: The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

1 The Lord is king, in splendor robed; robed is the Lord and girt about with strength. (R) And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. 2 Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O Lord. (R) 5 Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed holiness befits your house, O Lord, for length of days. (R)

 

 

2^ND READING

 

Jesus has existed with the Father in the Holy Spirit. It is a Triune God we worship. We marvel in their relationships and seek to understand it so that we can imitate them in our own lives. Father, help us to understand the nature of Your love through opening our hearts to experience it and live it always.

 

Revelation 1:5-8

5 Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and

who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

 

GOSPEL

 

It is important for us to realize that our true lives as Christians are in the world even though we do not belong to it. It is to the values of the Kingdom of God that we commit to and must be ready to lay down our lives. Service to the Gospel is nothing if it is not a willingness to live for God alone. Yes, less extreme responses will find their way to heaven, but they will not transform the way people understand God and revolutionize our experience of faith as the lives of the saints do.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!

 

John 18:33-37

33 Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” 37 So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

 

think: When we try to visualize the glory with which Jesus will arrive, the sky is the limit.

 

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 1-4

Daily Bible Readings - November 23,2012

1^ST READING

 

There will always be experiences that are sour and difficult. Hopefully, they are outweighed by the good ones. But this will not always be the case. We need to remember that the measure of God’s love, as well as the measure of our lives, is not dependent upon earthly experiences. It is the promise of life in heaven that is the true measure of life — our union with the Triune God. Could there be a more spectacular promise than this?

 

Revelation 10:8-11

8 I, John, heard a voice from heaven spoke to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” 10 I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R: How sweet to my taste is your promise!

14 In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. (R) 24 Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. (R) 72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) 103 How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (R) 111 Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. (R)131 I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Sometimes I think our Churches would not be far from the condemnation of Jesus in today’s Gospel. We need to be careful that we do not become too familiar with the things of God in our faith. One way of doing this, I think, is to learn how important silence is to the spiritual life. Once we develop a habit of silence we will crave for it more and more. It is in the silence that God speaks to us most clearly because there are less distractions as we listen to His voice.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

 

Luke 19:45-48

45 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’” 47 And every day Ghe was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, 48 but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

L LIST

think: It is the promise of life in heaven that is the true measure of life — our union with the Triune God.

 

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 Baruch 1-3

Daily Bible Readings - November 22,2012

1^ST READING

 

Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll. Jesus alone is the path to salvation. It is only Jesus who can save. We need to remember this as today there are so many different options to salvation being paraded before us. There are Eastern religions and philosophies; there are agnostic ways of life and even atheism. We need to be sure of what we believe so that we can easily refute the lies that will constantly hound us as we seek to follow Jesus as His disciples.

 

Revelation 5:1-10

1 I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. 4 I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. 7 He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. 9 They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. 10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9

R: The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Dominus Flevit (The Lord Wept) is a beautiful Church that signifies the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. As we contemplate why Jesus is weeping over a city that is lost, let us pray for our own “lost” cities and that the people in them might find their way to salvation. Jesus, You do not want to lose anybody; help me to be a witness to those who need to rediscover their lost faith.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Luke 19:41-44

41 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. 44 They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

1st READING 2nd READING

 

think: As we contemplate why Jesus is weeping over a city that is lost, let us pray for our own “lost” cities and that the people in them might find their way to salvation.

Lamentations 1-5

READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

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 Lamentations 1-5

Daily Bible Readings - November 10,2012

1^ST READING

 

Compromise is an insidious reality. It is the utter pit of sin, especially when it comes to our faith. It is hard to think of something more insulting to the memory of what Jesus has done for us than to compromise His ultimate sacrifice on the cross by failing to trust in it or by watering down the message of the Gospel until it is bereft of its power.

 

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22

1 I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this: “‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. 5 “‘“The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. 6 Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” 14 “To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this: “ ‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: 15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. 21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R: I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Can you think of more comforting words than those Jesus spoke to Zaccheus, “Today salvation has come to your house”? This is the nature of God’s love for us – while we were sinners Christ died for us. Jesus does not wait for us to become perfect. Jesus does not wait for us to overcome our sins before He saves us. He steps right up and does the job before we are even aware He is doing it. All that remains is for us to accept the gift of His love with humility and live with it faithfully.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God loved us, and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

 

Luke 19:1-10

1 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could  not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 7 When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is  a descendant of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

1st READING 2nd READING

think: Jesus does not wait for us to overcome our sins before He saves us.

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 Jeremiah 47-49

 

Daily Bible Readings - November 19,2012

1^ST READING

 

Our author writes to seven important communities in what is Western Turkey today. The places are not as important as the overall message of this book, which is an encouragement to remain faithful to the core of the Gospel and not to allow any compromise with the State of Rome to lessen one’s commitment to following the Gospel.

 

Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne. I heard the Lord saying to me: 2: 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this: “‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. 3 Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. 5 Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

 

P S A L M

 

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

R: Those who are victorious I will feed the tree of life.

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

 

Jesus is never embarrassed by the concerns of others. He is always willing to stop and hear the cry of anyone who has faith that He, Jesus, can help them. The same should be true of us. It is right to place boundaries around what we will and will not do in the service of the Gospel, what our responsibilities might be in comparison to someone else. However, ultimately we have to deal with each concern as it arises with love and compassion.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

 

Luke 18:35-43

35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, 36 and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39 The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 ”What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” 42 Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” 43 He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

1st READING 2nd READING

BLESSING

LIST

think: Ultimately, we have to deal with each concern as it arises, with love and compassion.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ___________________________

 

____________________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 43-46