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, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for my daily life     Chinese text

  Reading:  Genesis 37 

Jacob loved Joseph more than  his other sons
because Joseph was the son of his old age.

Jacob had a special coat of many colors made for Joseph.

Joseph's older brothers were jealous of Joseph and hated him.

Joseph had a dream: he became a famous person.
This made his brothers hate him all the more.

One day, when the brothers were looking after their sheep
in a distant place, Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were.

When the brothers saw Joseph coming
some of them wanted to kill him.

Eventually they sold Joseph to some slave traders
for 20 silver pieces.

The slave traders took Joseph to Egypt and re-sold him there.

The brothers told Jacob that a wild animal had killed Joseph.

Jacob was heart broken and mourned Joseph all the time.

Reflection: 
The story of Joseph is one of the most famous stories in the Bible.
It's a special favorite of prisoners because of its ending ....and Joseph is seen as prefiguring Jesus: sold for silver

Prayer: Dear God, please help me not to be jealous of other people

Reading: Psalm 19

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
the starry skies are the work of his hands.

The stars can't speak, but they are God's handwriting.
The sun is God's love shining on  the whole world.

The universe is a masterpiece,
and so is God's law which shines in our hearts.

The precepts of the Lord enlighten our lives each day.
The law of the Lord gives joy and wisdom to our hearts.

The decrees of the Lord are to be desired more than gold,
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

But  often we are unaware of  our errors.
Lord, please protect us from making mistakes.

Reflection:
This psalm is about the sun and about the law.
It can be called  "the sun-in-law psalm"!
(I'm not sure which, if any, psalms qualify as "daughter/mother/father-in-law" psalms).
Once again we remember the famous words of Immanuel Kant:
"Two things awe me most: the starry sky above me and the moral law within me"

Prayer:  Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart  be pleasing to you

Reading:  Galatians 2

Not long after this, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him
to his face, since he was in the wrong

He had been accustomed to eating with non-Jews, but when some friends of James arrived, people who insisted that all believers should be circumcised, he kept away from the non-Jews

When I saw that Peter was not respecting the true meaning of the Good News, I said to him in front of everyone "You have no right to make non-Jews adopt Jewish customs"

Reflection: 
Paul, a "bishop", was criticising Peter, the "pope" ....with good reason...Peter was in the wrong

Prayer: Jesus, help me understand that it's sometimes ok to criticize top Christian leaders

Reading:  Luke 1

As soon as she could and as quickly as she could, Mary went to Elizabeth's home in the hills near Jerusalem

As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in Elizabeth's womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

Elizabeth said to Mary "Of all women, you are the most blessed,
and blessed is the baby in your womb.  Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?  Blessed are you for believing God's promise"

Reflection:
Mary's presence caused Elizabeth's baby (John the Baptist) to jump.
Yesterday as I watched the video of Pope Francis' Saturday night vigil for peace, the entrance of the Madonna picture made me ...well...not jump....but certainly moved my heart

Prayer: Mary, blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus ....and thank you for the influence that even the thought of you has in our lives