Computer Cud    Vatican II asks us to read the Bible every day,   'to have a burning love'   for the Word of God           Resolution

This plan follows the Sunday liturgy:  reading + psalm + reading + gospel           From  www.simplebible.info              Previous Bible Blogs 

O Holy Spirit, may these passages give me hope, strength, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life          Chinese text

Please feel free to add  insights and prayers in the comment box below 

 Bible Blog   August 7, 2013 

  Reading:  Genesis 7-8   (c.f.  Noah's Ark in HK)

Noah's family and many animals went into the big boat, the "ark".

Then for about 40 days there was heavy rain which caused a great flood.
The ark floated on the water.

The people and animals inside the ark were safe
but people and animals outside the ark died.

When the rain and flood stopped
Noah and his family and the animals went out of the ark.

God made a special agreement (covenant) with Noah
to bless Noah and his family.

God told Noah that the rainbow would be a sign of their agreement.

Reflection Rainbow - and  double-rainbow photo

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for making the rainbow so beautiful

 

Reading: Psalm 139

O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know my resting and my rising.

You know exactly what's going on in my life,
all my ways are an open book to you.

Before ever a word is on my tongue,
You know, O Lord, what I'm going to say.

Your knowledge is beyond my understanding,
too high, beyond my reach.

It was you who created my being,
knit me together in my mother's womb.

I thank you for the wonder of my life,
for the wonders of all your creation.

Reflection:
If we have free will, how come God knows today what I'm going to do tomorrow?
Maybe God is like someone on top of a very high mountain...who can see a group of people hiking way down below....and can see the place where they will be in a few hours time - even though the hikers can't yet see that place

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of life.  Please help me live life as well as I can

 

Reading:  1 Corinthians 10-11

The cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.
The bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ

Avoid anything to do with idol worship. 
It doesn't make sense to share in the table of the Lord and in the table of demons

Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all,
do it for the glory of God

Never do anything offensive to anyone. Try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for your own advantage, but for the advantage of others, so that they may be saved

Take me for your model, as I take Christ

Reflection: We who receive Holy Communion should be people who try to do everything for the glory of God, people who never do anything offensive to anyone, people who try to be helpful....not anxious for our own advantage but for the advantage of others
- in a word: we should be people who are trying to imitate Jesus


Prayer: Jesus, please help me imitate you in my daily life

 

Reading: Mark 12

In Jerusalem a religious leader asked Jesus
"Which is the most important commandment?"

Jesus replied
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart.
And you must care as much about others as you care about yourself.

These are the two most important commandments.
All other commandments  depend on  these two."

Reflection:
Pope Francis is often reminding us that real love of God means caring for other people, especially the poor

Prayer Jesus, please help me love you with all my heart
and care for others as much as I care about myself

Comments welcome here