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:  Sirach 20-23

The talk of a foolish person is like a load on a journey.
The talk of a wise person is a pleasure to hear.

Lord, do not give me proud eyes.
Do not let  lust take control of my life.

Do not let my mouth use coarse and foul language.

Help me avoid sins of impurity, alone or with others.

Reflection:
How many times do we hurt others feelings or "put our foot in it" when we talk too much.
Control of the tongue gives us more self-control for other areas of our lives

Prayer: Lord, please help me control my tongue a bit more

Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength.
My body is racked with pain. Please heal me, Lord.

I am exhausted with my groaning.
Every night  my pillow is covered  with tears.

Lord, please hear my prayer.

Reflection:
Yesterday when visiting the custodial section of a hospital....I met a lady who is racked with pain....stomach cancer

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help people who are in distress of mind or body...especially A-Lin

One of the seven deacons, Stephen, was filled with grace and power.
He began to do many miracles

A group of Jews tried to beat Stephen in a debate.
But they could not win, because the Holy Spirit was guiding Stephen in his speech

The group then got some men to falsely accuse Stephen of being disloyal to Moses and to God

The group had Stephen arrested and brought before a meeting of the religious leaders. 
At the meeting, false witnesses accused Stephen of speaking against Moses and the Law

Reflection:
In not a few countries of the world, it is still not uncommon for people to be accused in court by false witnesses

Prayer: Jesus, please protect people who are accused by false witnesses

One day Jesus prayed:

Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
I am joyfully amazed at the way simple people
understand and accept what I'm saying,
while proud and clever people miss the plot.

And he said to the ordinary people:

Come to me,
all you who are treated unfairly by unjust religious laws.
I will give you peace and justice.

Learn from me, and you will know peace,
for I am gentle and humble of heart.

Reflection: 
The old translation of the above was "Come to me you who labor and are burdened" ....and we used to think of people carrying heavy loads on their back. But Jesus is talking about the burden of unjust religious laws...of which not a few still exist today  (e.g. harsh laws re divorced people; the law of compulsory celibacy for priests; unreasonable requirements for baptism; harsh laws re women ministers etc)

Prayer: Jesus, please help people who are suffering from unjust religious laws