Archive for the ‘Daily Bible Readings’ Category

Readings (Sunday’s) & Prayer – The affliction of the proud has no healing,.. The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable,..

September 2, 2007

When: Saturday, September 08, 2007 7:30 AM-8:30 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, Your blessings, mercy and grace do not go un-noticed; with each moment, in each situation I can see Your hand. As I look back I realize there is a difference between seeing and feeling; while seeing Your hand is a blessing worthy of praise, I seek to feel Your hand in each moment. For to me seeing is more of an feeling I get when I look back at the moment and feeling is seeing You with me in the moment, in the now of my time under the sun. Feeling is present, feeling is interactive, feeling is what I seek. It is my quest to bring You into each moment, with each breath; breathing You into my being and with each breath a conscious meditation of You as my source of source, Your unconditional love for me, Your will and Your purpose for me, creating my heaven on earth under the sun, now, always in the now with You. O Lord guide my mind and heart as I seek to feel closer to You while under the sun through opening myself to interpretations and writings on Jesus and The Church. Once again the daily readings address what is on my mind and bringing clarity and focus to my thoughts through Your inspired words; for in the meekness and humility that I seek, I also know there must be a state of courage prepared, ready and able to do and be all that You will, knowing all along that I will fail, I will fall short and even though I have many self made issues and problems to resolve and get myself out of, but I will pray for strengthen, energy and focus so that in resolving these things I stay in the now and out of the past and completely trusting in You for tomorrow. For it is in Jesus and in His name that I believe, seek and pray for these things, Amen.
O Catholic Church, true mother of Christians, you are right in teaching that God should be adored with an entirely chaste and pure heart. You unite all brothers and sisters to one another in a bond of religion that is stronger and closer than ties of blood. St. Augustine

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
17 My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. 18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. 20 For great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble. 28 The affliction of the proud has no healing, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him. 29 The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable, and an attentive ear is the wise man’s desire.
Bible Study: [17-27] Humility gives a true estimate of self (Sirach 3:17-19). Through it a man performs duty, avoids what is beyond his understanding and strength (Sirach 3:20-22). Pride, however, begets false greatness, misjudgment, stubborness, sorrow, affliction and perdition (Sirach 3:23-27). [19] An alternate or additional line would read: "For though many have been great in the course of time, it is to the humble he reveals his secrets." Cf Matthew 11:25-26; 1 Cor 1:26-29. [29-4:10] Mercy and kindness toward those in misfortune atone for sin and endear a man to God and to his fellow men.

Psalm 68:4-7, 10-11
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is the LORD, exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness, [Selah] 10 thy flock found a dwelling in it; in thy goodness, O God, thou didst provide for the needy. 11 The Lord gives the command; great is the host of those who bore the tidings:

Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers entreat that no further messages be spoken to them. 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.

Luke 14:1, 7-14
1 One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Bible Study: [7-14] The banquet scene found only in Luke provides the opportunity for these teachings of Jesus on humility and presents a setting to display Luke’s interest in Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor (see the notes on Luke 4:18; 6:20-26; 12:13-34). [15-24] The parable of the great dinner is a further illustration of the rejection by Israel, God’s chosen people, of Jesus’ invitation to share in the banquet in the kingdom and the extension of the invitation to other Jews whose identification as the poor, crippled, blind, and lame (Luke 14:21) classifies them among those who recognize their need for salvation, and to Gentiles (Luke 14:23). A similar parable is found in Matthew 22:1-10.

Prayer & Readings – Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life.

August 31, 2007

When: Friday, August 31, 2007 8:00 AM-9:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, Your mercy, grace and unconditional love is what makes and carries us if when we let You. It is only in and through You that we can hope to find the ability to love with the understanding and compassion that so many need today. O Lord that You would continue to bless me indeed and enlarge my territory to reflect this love, let Your hand be with me to guide and mould me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. Especially the pain that one feels when I fail to show understanding and love. For I know that when I am a lone with You, You will guide me through Jesus in the Holy Spirit; and that You will convict me if I place my needs above others. This is my bread, this is what I know I must eat and drink from when I wake until I close my eyes, for without Your presence I will fail You. So keep me close and in Jesus through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
 
Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life. Until we have a passionate love for Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, we shall accomplish nothing. Certainly, Our Lord loves us passionately in the Eucharist; He loves us blindly without a thought for Himself, devoting Himself entirely for our good. We should love Him as He loves us.
– St. Peter Eymard
 
1 Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; 4 that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; 6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. 7 For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Prayer & Readings – Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life.

August 31, 2007

When: Friday, August 31, 2007 8:00 AM-9:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, Your mercy, grace and unconditional love is what makes and carries us if when we let You. It is only in and through You that we can hope to find the ability to love with the understanding and compassion that so many need today. O Lord that You would continue to bless me indeed and enlarge my territory to reflect this love, let Your hand be with me to guide and mould me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. Especially the pain that one feels when I fail to show understanding and love. For I know that when I am a lone with You, You will guide me through Jesus in the Holy Spirit; and that You will convict me if I place my needs above others. This is my bread, this is what I know I must eat and drink from when I wake until I close my eyes, for without Your presence I will fail You. So keep me close and in Jesus through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
 
Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life. Until we have a passionate love for Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, we shall accomplish nothing. Certainly, Our Lord loves us passionately in the Eucharist; He loves us blindly without a thought for Himself, devoting Himself entirely for our good. We should love Him as He loves us.
– St. Peter Eymard
 
1 Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; 4 that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; 6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. 7 For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.


Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 10-12
1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Matthew 25:1-13
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Readings & Prayer – Amazing Grace; for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith

August 31, 2007

When: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 11:30 PM to Friday, August 31, 2007, 12:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, thank You for Your merciful grace that rains down on me each day. Today I found myself looking up to let that grace bounce off my face; filling me with peace, patience, understanding and love for others. You carried me today! O Lord that You would continue to bless me indeed, to enlarge my territory, that Your hand will continue to be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. To guide my heart and mind with understanding and love, and focus and discernment so that I keep You above all else. For without You I can do nothing, but with and through You all things are possible. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
 
We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips.
— St. Peter Claver
 
for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, 10 praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
3 Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!" 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, `My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, 51 and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

Readings & Prayer – Amazing Grace; for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith

August 31, 2007

When: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 11:30 PM to Friday, August 31, 2007, 12:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, thank You for Your merciful grace that rains down on me each day. Today I found myself looking up to let that grace bounce off my face; filling me with peace, patience, understanding and love for others. You carried me today! O Lord that You would continue to bless me indeed, to enlarge my territory, that Your hand will continue to be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. To guide my heart and mind with understanding and love, and focus and discernment so that I keep You above all else. For without You I can do nothing, but with and through You all things are possible. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
 
We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips.
— St. Peter Claver
 
for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, 10 praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


Psalm 90:3-5, 12-14, 17
3 Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!" 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Matthew 24:42-51
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, `My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, 51 and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

Prayer & Readings – A voice crying in the wilderness, a voice crying for mercy. In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!

August 29, 2007

When: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 7:00 AM-8:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, I rest in You, giving thanks and praise for all Your blessings. I seek this time with You in Your Word. O Lord that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. Amen
Since God is perfect in loving man, man must be perfect in loving his neighbor. St. Vincent Pallotti
17 But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."
1 In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me, and save me! 3 Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5 For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. 6 Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of thee. 15 My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. 17 O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.
17 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." 19 And Hero’di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Hero’di-as’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." 23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
 

Prayer & Readings – A voice crying in the wilderness, a voice crying for mercy. In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!

August 29, 2007

When: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 7:00 AM-8:00 AM.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Lord God, I rest in You, giving thanks and praise for all Your blessings. I seek this time with You in Your Word. O Lord that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. Amen
Since God is perfect in loving man, man must be perfect in loving his neighbor. St. Vincent Pallotti

Jeremiah 1:17-19
17 But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."

Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
1 In thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2 In thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me, and save me! 3 Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5 For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. 6 Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of thee. 15 My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. 17 O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.

Mark 6:17-29
17 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." 19 And Hero’di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Hero’di-as’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." 23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.