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:  Isaiah 50

The Lord has opened my ear to hear his message.
The Lord has given me words to proclaim his message.

For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.

I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard.

I did not protect my face
from insult and spittle.

I set my face like flint.
The Lord will help me.

Reflection: 
Insult and spittle: recently I've been re-reading an inspiring book about Gladys Aylward, The Little Women of the movie "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness".
Yesterday I read how on one occasion when she began visiting a prison, a prisoner spat in her face.  She prayed for him for some weeks, and he eventually accepted Jesus as Saviour

Prayer: Lord, please help me pray for people who insult me or make fun of me

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shine its light upon us.

Let all the peoples praise you, O God.
Let all the peoples praise you.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name.
Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,
God provides a shelter for the homeless.

God gives his people strength.

Reflection: 
The writer of this psalm had a "universal", "catholic" outlook 
- he thought not just of his own nation, but of the whole world - "let all the peoples praise you".
Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics to "go out" from our own little world/parish/school to people in need 
...he is asking Catholics to be catholic as in "universal"

Prayer: May all the peoples of the earth know you and praise you, O God

For three months, Paul went to the Jewish prayer hall in Ephesus, speaking boldly about the kingdom of God

When some Jews strongly attacked the Way, he stopped going to the prayer hall, and began daily discussions in a lecture room

He kept doing this for two years, with the result that people from many places, both Jews and non-Jews, were able to hear the word of God

Reflection:
Would be great if in most cities of the world there was a place for daily discussions as above!  

Prayer: Jesus, please give more and more people the opportunity to hear your word...maybe through daily discussions available to the public

In Jerusalem a religious leader asked Jesus
"Which is the most important commandment?"

Jesus replied
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart.
And you must care as much about others as you care about yourself.

These are the two most important commandments.
All other commandments depend on  these two."

Reflection: 
Would that children could be taught these two basic principles for their lives
...so that from their earliest days they love to pray and love to help others

Prayer: Jesus, please help children learn the above two principles