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

Please feel free to add  insights and prayers in the comment box below. There is no moderation before posting....comments are immediately uploaded. No need to use real name 

 Reading - Reflection - Prayer   April 17, 2013 
With readers' comments, below                 

Reading:  Isaiah 10, 11, 12

Woe to legislators who issue unjust laws,
laws which exploit poor people.

A day of reckoning is coming
when unjust legislators will answer to the Lord.

The Lord will send a good and just king
to rescue the poor.

A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse,
on him the spirit of the Lord will rest,

a spirit of wisdom and insight,
a spirit of counsel and power,

a spirit of knowledge,
a spirit of love and respect for the Lord.

He will judge justly
and the land will know peace.

The country will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
Exiles will return to their homeland.

Then we will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation,
for great in our midst will be the Holy One of Israel.

Reflection: 
If a government leader wants to be a good leader, he/she must ask for the constant blessing and help of the Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom, insight, counsel, knowledge, love, justice, respect for the Lord

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, please bless all government leaders with wisdom, counsel, justice etc

 

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips.

In the Lord my soul shall make its boast,
the humble shall hear and be glad.

Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me.
From all my terrors he set me free.

The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere the Lord, to rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
They are happy who seek refuge in him.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Those whose spirits are crushed he will save.

Reflection:
You Tube: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord 

Prayer: Lord, by our Bible reading and prayer,
 may we taste and see your goodness each day

 
Reading:  Acts 15

Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas "Let's revisit the towns where we preached the word of the Lord".

Barnabas suggested taking John Mark with them, but Paul opposed this, since John Mark had deserted them on the previous trip when the situation became dangerous

After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas split up. Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus.
Silas joined Paul for his next journey

Reflection:
Maybe it was best Paul never got married.
He may not have been the easiest person to live with ...like not a few "saints"

Prayer: 
Jesus, at your Last Supper  you prayed  for the unity of your followers.  Help us avoid arguments

 
Reading:  Matthew 17

A man went down on his knees and pleaded with Jesus:

"Lord, please help my son. He is crazy and does crazy things
like falling into fire and into water.
I asked  your disciples to heal him but they were not able to."

There was an evil spirit oppressing the boy,
so Jesus ordered the spirit to leave the boy.
The boy was healed immediately.

Jesus' disciples asked him
"Why were we unable to expel that spirit?"

Jesus answered "Because your faith is not strong enough."

Reflection: 
Once again, this time from the negative side ("not strong enough") the frequent link between healing and faith

Prayer: Jesus, please increase my faith, so that my prayers can be of more help to other people

Please feel free to add  insights and prayers in this comment box