Daily Bible Readings - September 7, 2012

1^ST READING

 

Ultimately, it is only the Lord who will pass judgment on our lives. Yes, there are times that we need to make judgments of people (in the criminal justice system for example). However, we must seek to be as merciful as possible when doing this for fear we judge incorrectly. This is why the Church teaches that capital punishment is to be avoided as a part of the human justice system, if at all possible.

 

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

1 Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

 

PS A L M

 

Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 5 Commit to the Lord your way; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. (R) 27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; 28 for the Lord loves what is right, and forsakes not his faithful ones. Criminals are destroyed, and the posterity of the wicked is cut off. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Fasting and various other practices of self-mortification are very helpful for prayer and central to a healthy Christian life. Depriving our bodies of food for a short time is also a healthy practice as it gives our bodies the opportunity to clean up our digestive system of lingering chemicals and toxins that develop over time. Fasting also serves to heighten our attentiveness and clarity of thought just as overeating tends to dull these faculties.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

 

Luke 5:33-39

33 The scribes and the Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. 37 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 38 Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

 

think: It is only the Lord who will pass judgment on our lives.

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’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 Psalm 71-75

Daily Bible Readings - September 6, 2012

1^ST READING

 

God’s wisdom is sometimes inaccessible to us. He is also omniscient – knowing everything. His wisdom is guided by the knowledge that there will be times in our lives when we will simply have to obey Him without fully understanding why He is asking us to do something. This is part of our faith walk with God.

 

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

18 Brothers and sisters: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: “God catches the wise in their own ruses,” 20 and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, 22 Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, 23 and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

 

P S A L M

 

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

R: To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

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

 

Jesus calls all people to follow Him – no one is excluded from this. It does not matter who we are, what we have done or where we are going. Jesus calls us to follow Him as the first priority of our lives. Christianity is compatible with most vocations. Let us trust that He will show us how we are to live our vocations in a Christian way.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

Luke 5:1-11

1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two  oats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7 They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10 and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

 

think: There will be times in our lives when we will simply have to obey God without fully understanding why He is asking us to do something.

 

 

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 66-70