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 us hope, wisdom, compassion,
courage and peace for our daily life
             Chinese text

 Bible Blog   December 7, 2013     Comments welcome here

  Reading:  Numbers 10

The Israelites made two silver trumpets.
When both trumpets sounded,
the whole community would go to where Moses was.
When only one trumpet sounded,
only the leaders would assemble.
The trumpets were also used on special feast days,
to remind the people to praise God


Reflection:
"The trumpets were used to remind the people to praise God"

Prayer: Dear God, when we hear trumpets being used
 in an orchestra or band, may their sound remind us of you

 

Reading: Psalm 116

I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal.
He turned his ear to me in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the snares of death.
I was helpless, so the Lord saved me.

Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am your servant.

Reflection: 
As we grow older, we become more aware of the sacrifices our parents made for us when we were young.
As we grow older, we become more aware of God's goodness right through our lives....starting with the gift of existence

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness to me

 

Reading:  1 Timothy 1

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who called me into his service,
even though I was an offender

Mercy was shown me, because I was acting in ignorance

Christ Jesus came into the world to save offenders.
I myself am the greatest offender

Christ Jesus' patience and mercy to me is available to all offenders.
I am a demonstration model of Christ's mercy

Reflection:
Human thinking: lock up offenders and throw away the key.
God's thinking:  patience and mercy

Prayer: To the eternal King, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen

 

Reading:  Luke 18

Some people prided themselves on being virtuous, and despised others. Jesus told them this story:

Two men went to the Temple to pray, one a religious leader, the other a social outcast

The leader stood there and said "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, unjust and adulterous like other people such as this outcast here"

The outcast did not even raise his eyes, but beat his breast and said "God, be merciful to me, a sinner"

The outcast, I tell you, went home a friend of God. The leader did not. People who exalt themselves will be humbled. People who humble themselves will be exalted

Reflection: 
Following on from the reading from Paul, above, we can say that before his conversion Paul was like the religious leader in this Gospel story. After his conversion he was like the outcast in the story

Prayer:
Jesus, be merciful to me, a sinner