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

  Reading:  Genesis 40 

When two of Pharaoh's officials,
his cup-bearer and his baker
also were put in jail,
Joseph was able to interpret dreams they had.

The cup-bearer dreamt he picked grapes
and made wine for Pharaoh's cup.

Joseph told him the meaning of his dream:
in three days he'd be free
and back at work as Pharaoh's cup-bearer.

The baker dreamt that birds ate bread 
from a tray on top of his head.

Joseph told him:
"In three days you'll be hanged, and birds will eat your flesh."

And so it happened as Joseph had said:
on the third day
the cup-bearer went back to work in Pharaoh's palace
while the baker was hanged.

Joseph asked the cup-bearer to help him get out of jail,
but when the cup-bearer was free,  he forgot about Joseph.

Reflection: 
This whole story is beautifully presented in the DVD Joseph, King of Dreams - one of my favourites when I was teaching English....and very popular with older children and teenagers

Prayer:  Dear God, may the ancient Joseph story give hope and courage to every new generation

Reading: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path. He is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil. My cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

Reflection:
"Near restful waters" ....there's something about a river, lake or ocean...something naturally restful and reviving

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for restful, reviving waters!

Reading:  Galatians 4

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, and to enable us to be adopted as children of God, brothers and sisters of his Son

The proof that we are children is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries "Abba, Father"

Reflection: 
All people are God's children, since God is the Creator of all. But by Baptism we are upgraded from human children to divine children....brothers and sisters of the Divine Son-made-man, Jesus

Prayer: Jesus, help me understand how I have been upgraded, how you are my Brother

Reading:  Luke 2

The Emperor of Rome ordered that a census be taken of the whole
Empire.  Every man  had to go to his home town to be registered

So Joseph set out from Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to Galilee,
to the town of David called Bethlehem, with his pregnant wife Mary

While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 
She gave birth to a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a feeding box for animals, because there was no room for them at the local inn

Reflection:
"No room for them at the inn"....even though Mary was obviously soon to have a baby, no one would give her a room.  How could they turn away a heavily pregnant teenage mother?  Couldn't some space somewhere be found for her?  How could anyone say "no" to someone in such genuine need?

Prayer: Jesus, for whose birth no room could be found at Bethlehem, please help  us to say "yes" to anyone in genuine need that we are in a position to help