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 R-R-P 

O Holy Spirit, please guide me as I read these passages for today.                     
May these passages give me hope, strength, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life             Chinese text

Reading:  Job 25-31

Job replied:
"I swear by God who denies me justice that as long as I have breath, I will live a life of innocence.

I remember how I have always lived as a friend of God:
how I helped the poor, the orphan, the dying, the widow, the blind, the lame.

I remember how I made a pact with my eyes
not to linger on any other woman but my wife.

I remember how I have never put my trust in riches or fame.
I have always trusted only in the Lord.

Yet now people laugh at me and make fun of me.
They avoid me and even spit on me.

When will God answer me?"

Reflection:
What a beautiful definition of living as "a friend of God": 
- helping the poor
- "a pact with the eyes"
- trust in the Lord, not in riches or fame

"Pact with the eyes" reminds us of Jesus' words "looking lustfully at a woman".
I've just finished skimming through The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr Norman Doidge.
I'd give it one or two stars only. But in chapter four, Doidge says that "hard porn" today means all sorts of violence....so that yesterday's definition of "hard porn" is today's "soft porn"...meaning that the idea of "making a pact with the eyes" is much more difficult since "soft porn" is the norm for TV advertisements etc

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to imitate Job's way of life, especially his eye pact

My song is of mercy and justice.
I sing to you, O Lord.

I will try to walk with blameless heart.
I will try to give my attention to what is good, not what is bad.

People who slander others, people of proud looks,
these will not be my friends.

People who are good and do good,
these will be my friends.

Reflection: 
Here a definition of "walking with a blameless heart":
- being interested in good things, not bad things
- avoiding slanderers and proud people
- associating with good people who do good

Prayer:  Dear Lord, please help me to avoid bad company

From John, to the seven churches of Asia province:
grace and peace to you
from him who is, who was, and who is to come,
from the seven spirits at his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the First-born from the dead,
the Ruler of the kings of the earth

Jesus Christ loves us and has washed away our sins with this blood, 
and made us a line of kings and priests to serve his God and Father

It is he who will come on the clouds.
Everyone, in every part of the world, will see him.
All hearts will be moved by his coming

"I am the beginning and the end", says the Lord God.
"I am the originator and goal of all things"

Reflection: 
As we start reading from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, let's remind ourselves that this book has to be understood very carefully. It's full of imagery that is not meant to be taken literally.
No other part of the Bible has been misunderstood and misused as much as Revelation. Having said that, let's allow our hearts to be stirred by the powerful message and great themes of this book!

Prayer:  Jesus, please help more and more people know that you are the Originator and Goal of all things. You are "the Cosmic Jesus"

Jesus said to his disciples at the meal
"I give you a new commandment: love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another

By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples"

Reflection: 
Today we've had Job's definition of "a friend of God",  the psalmist's definition of "walking with a blameless heart"....and now a definition that combines those two definitions and takes them to a new level: love like Jesus, love one another as Jesus has loved us

Prayer: Jesus, please help all Christians  to love one another as you have loved us