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. 

 Reading - Reflection - Prayer   April 23, 2013 
With readers' comments, below  

Reading:  Isaiah 28-30

God says:
"I will punish priests and prophets who mislead the people.
Their mouths utter lies.

They honor me only with lip-service
while their hearts are far from me.

Religion has become just a mental exercise,
just a series of human laws."

The Lord appeals to everyone:
trust in him and cease to do evil.

Salvation is found in conversion and tranquility.
Strength is found in complete trust in the Lord.

Reflection: 
From its earliest pages, the Bible stresses that real religion is a matter of the heart, not just of externals.
The prophets, like Isaiah above, proclaim this message. 
Jesus does the same, in one case quoting the above words (Matthew 15.8)

Prayer: Lord, please help us honor you with our hearts 

 

Reading: Psalms 42-45

Like a deer that longs for running streams,
so my soul is longing for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for you, the God of my life.
I think of you all the time, here in my land of exile.

People make fun of us here in exile.
They  taunt us saying "Where is your God?"

Yet no matter what happens we will hope in you,
for you are our saviour and our God.

No matter where we are or what happens to us,
our hearts will long for you, like a bride longing for her groom.

Reflection:
Helping the poor is good for ....our health!

Prayer: Lord, please increase my longing for you

 
Reading:  Acts 17

Paul and his friends next went to the town of Thessalonika. 
On three Sabbaths,  Paul spoke at the local prayer hall, explaining how Jesus is the Anointed One

Some Jewish listeners and many non-Jewish people became believers.
But the religious leaders, out of jealousy, stirred up a gang from the market place

The gang dragged some believers to the city council
The leaders shouted "The people who have been turning the whole world upside down, have come to our town.
They claim there is another emperor, Jesus"

The believers were eventually allowed to go on bail

Reflection:
"Out of jealousy" ...this is often the reason why people don't like an idea, don't like someone

Prayer: 
Jesus, please help us avoid jealousy. Help us be glad about your gifts to others.
Help us be open to the good ideas of others

 
Reading:  Matthew 19

A young man asked Jesus
"Master, what do I have to do to get to Heaven?"

Jesus replied "Keep the commandments:
do not kill;  do not commit adultery; honor your father and mother;
care for others as much as you care about yourself".

The young man said "I have kept all these commandments.
What else do I need to do?"

Jesus said "If you want to do something really special with your life, go and sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor,
then come and follow me as one of my disciples".

When the young man heard these words he went away sad,
because he was very rich.

Jesus then said to his disciples
"It is hard for a rich person to get to Heaven".

Reflection: 
If the Lord is asking us to do something special for him, not necessarily a big thing...maybe just a small thing,
may we have the grace "not to go away sad"

Prayer: Jesus, please don't anything or anyone stop me from doing something special for you

Comments welcome here