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 Bible Blogs 

O Holy Spirit, may these passages give me hope, strength, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life          Chinese text

  Reading:  Genesis 23-24  

Not long after his wife Sarah died
Abraham told his number one servant
to go back to Haran and find a wife for his son Isaac.

The servant went to Haran, to the town of Nahor.

When women were getting water from the well in Nahor
the servant prayed to God for help to find a wife for Isaac.

He said to God, 
"If I ask a woman for a drink and she answers
'Please take some of my water,
and I'll give some to your camels, too'
may she be the one you have chosen for Isaac."

He had barely finished his prayer
when Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel came to the well.

She was very beautiful and not married.

The servant asked her for water  and she said 
"Drink, sir...and I'll get water for your camels, too."

Bethuel, a relative of Abraham, 
gladly agreed for Rebecca to go with the servant to be Isaac's wife.

Rebecca herself was happy with the plan.

Isaac married Rebecca and loved her dearly.

Reflection: 
This beautiful love story is an inspiration for all young people to keep on searching, with God's help, for the right life-partner!

Prayer: Dear God, please help people find "Mr/Mrs Right"

Reading: Psalm 3

When people make fun of me for believing in you, Lord,
I deeply remember how you are my help and my shield.

Even when the whole world seems against me,
I can go to bed and sleep easy, knowing that you protect me.

O Lord, please rescue me from people who plot against me.
Lord our savior, please bless everyone who needs help

Reflection:
When people made fun of Jesus, even mocked him.... under his breath (& then out loud on the Cross) he prayed for them.
Not easy to do....not easy to remember: at the very moment someone is making fun of us...silently in the heart to pray for them

Prayer: Jesus, when I am made fun of, please help me pray for the people ridiculing me

Reading:  2 Corinthians 1

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, one of the brothers, to the church of God at Corinth

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
a gentle Father and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows

The recent persecutions I experienced made me think I would not survive. This has taught me to rely not on myself but only on God for help

God saved me from being killed. My hope is he will continue to save me

Reflection: 
The older we get, the less we can rely on our own physical strength and skills  (as our bodies slow down and wear out) ....the more we need to rely on God 

Prayer: Jesus, no matter how young or old I am, please help me rely not on myself but you for help

Reading: Mark 15

Early in the morning, the religious leaders had Jesus bound with ropes. They took him to Pilate, the Roman governor

The leaders accused Jesus of many crimes.
To the governor's amazement, Jesus remained silent

The leaders persuaded the crowd to demand
the execution of Jesus. They called out to Pilate "Crucify him".

Pilate asked "Why? What has he done wrong?"
The crowd shouted all the louder "Crucify him. Crucify him".

Giving in to the crowd, Pilate then ordered Jesus to be scourged and crucified

Reflection:
Just a few words in the Gospels: "Pilate ordered Jesus to be scoured".
Mel Gibson's "The Passion" overdoes the scourging scene....more accurately treated in the excellent movie The Silent Witness. But the aim of scourging was to half-kill a person...so that he wouldn't last too long on the cross. A frightening experience. No wonder Jesus shed blood during his agony in the garden.

Prayer Jesus, thank you for scourging and crucifixion for the salvation of the world