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

  Reading:  Genesis 17  

God appeared to Abraham and said to him
"I will make an everlasting covenant with you and your descendants.

As a sign of this covenant, all your males must be circumcised.
Baby boys must be circumcised when they are eight days old.

Also, Sarah your wife, even though she is old, will bear you a son.
You will name him Isaac."

Reflection: 
This Wikipedia article has an interesting point (no pun intended):
There is strong evidence that circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual men in high-risk populations. Evidence among heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa shows a decreased risk of between 38 percent and 66 percent over two years

Prayer: Dear God,  please stop the dangerous practice of female circumcision

Reading: Psalm 147

Praise the Lord for he is good.
Sing to our God for he is loving. 
To him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel's exiles.

He heals the broken-hearted
and binds up all their wounds.

The Lord raises the lowly
and humbles the wicked.

He fixes the number of the stars.
He calls each one by name.

Our Lord is great and almighty.
His wisdom can never be measured.

He covers the heavens with clouds.
He prepares rain for the earth,

making mountains sprout with grass
and with plants to serve our needs.

His delight is not in horses
nor his pleasure in warriors' strength.

The Lord delights in those who love and honor him,
in those who wait for his love.

Reflection:
Many people who have had a "near death experience" describe the overpowering feeling of knowing that they are known and loved by the Creator of the universe. We don't need to have one foot in the grave to start understanding this wonderful fact

Prayer: God of the universe, please help me think more about your love for me

Reading:  1 Corinthians 15

Let me remind you of the basic facts of the Good News:

Christ died for our sins. He was buried.
He was raised to life on the third day

He appeared to Peter, then to the other apostles, then to more than 500 of the believers - most of whom are still alive. Then he appeared to James and the other disciples

Last of all he appeared to me. I was like an un-expected child

Jesus, I have not yet seen you, but I believe in you and I love you

Reflection: 
Jesus' Resurrection was not a myth, not make believe, not a lie.
It really happened. Our faith is based on a true fact. 
Remembering that our faith is based on fact  anchors us in time of doubt

Prayer: Jesus,  please increase my faith in your Resurrection, and may your Resurrection anchor my faith

Reading: Mark 14

On Passover Eve, Jesus ate a last meal with his apostles.
While they were eating, Jesus told them he knew he would be betrayed by one of them. He told Judas he knew he was the betrayer.

Then Jesus took some bread, blessed it and gave it to his apostles saying
" This is my body"

Then he took a cup of wine, blessed it and gave it to them saying
"This is my blood"

Reflection:
Different Christian denominations have different understandings of the words "This is my body, this is my blood" 

Prayer Jesus, please help me understand your words in the way you want them to be understood!