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, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life     Chinese text

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 Bible Blog   September 4, 2013     Comments welcome here

  Reading:  Genesis 31  

Jacob said to Rachel and Leah

"You know how hard I have worked for your father,
yet he has treated me unfairly - ten times he changed my wages.
Now God has told me to go back to my own land.
So, get ready, we are going."

Jacob took his wives, children and livestock and left
 - without telling Laban.

Only after three days did Laban find out
that Jacob had outsmarted him.

Laban chased Jacob, 
but God told Laban not to hurt Jacob.

So Laban made a treaty with Jacob and let him go on his way.

Reflection: 
Jacob had been unfairly treated by Laban for a long time.
Finally, with God's encouragement, Jacob took action.
Same for anyone in an unfair situation:
with God's encouragement, take action!

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to know when to take action and when not to take action ....in response to unfair situations

 

Reading: Psalms 9-13

I will praise you , Lord, with all my heart.
You have so often rescued me from trouble. Thank you!

You are the best helper for people in trouble.
Please keep on helping me when troubles come.

Please stop bad people from hurting others.
Please let peoples in all countries know they must avoid evil and live a life of justice.

Reflection:
When we get to Heaven and get to see a replay of our lives, we'll be staggered to see how often God helped us ......just as we're not aware now of how much our parents did for us in our first few years of life

Prayer: Dear Lord,  thank you for so often helping me

 

Reading:  2 Corinthians 13

Soon I will be with you for a third time.
What I ask is that you live the way God wants you to live

So, grow in your Christian life. Help one another. Be united.
Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
and the friendship of the Holy Spirit be with you all

Reflection: 
Paul often encourages us to have a Trinitarian spirituality....to grow in awareness of the three Persons...so that our lives more and more become a loving dialogue with them ...from first thing in the morning till last thing at night

Prayer: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, please let me often remember you and chat with you throughout the day

 

Reading: Mark 16

After he rose from the dead, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had cast out 7 devils. Next  he appeared to two of his disciples while they were on a journey

Then he appeared to the 11 apostles. He said to them "Go everywhere in the world. Proclaim the Good News to all creation.
Anyone who believes and is baptized, will be saved.
Anyone who refuses to believe, will be condemned

These are the signs that will be associated with believers:
- in my name they will cast out devils
- they will have the gift of tongues
- they will pick up snakes in their hands
- they will be unharmed if they drink poison
- they will lay their hands on the sick, who will be healed"

And so, the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up to heaven, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming their message by the miracles that accompanied the message

Reflection:
The above translation
"Anyone who refuses to believe" is better than the usual translation "anyone who does not believe" ....because many people live good lives but have never had a chance to hear the Gospel and believe ....surely such people will not be condemned

Prayer Lord Jesus, may more and more people all over the world
 believe in you