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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

Please feel free to add  insights and prayers in the comment box below 

 Bible Blog   September 11, 2013     Comments welcome here

  Reading:  Genesis 39 


The slave traders took Joseph to Egypt
and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's top officials.

God was with Joseph.
God blessed everything Joseph did.

Because Joseph did everything so well
Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and all his possessions.

Because of Joseph, God blessed Potiphar and all his interests.

Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph who was very handsome.
But day after day Joseph refused to sleep with her.

Then one day when Joseph again refused her
she tore his clothes and started screaming.

She claimed Joseph had tried to seduce her.
Potiphar believed his wife and he put Joseph in jail.

Reflection: 
In prison Joseph entrusted his life to God, maybe often using the very appropriate words of Psalm 22 (below)

Prayer: Dear God, when my world falls apart please increase my trust in you ...like Joseph

 

Reading: Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I call to you for help, but day and night you give no reply.

I am a worm and not a man.
Everyone who sees me makes fun of me.

They taunt  me: "He trusted in the Lord, why doesn't the Lord help him?"

Like water I am poured out, my bones no longer connected.
My throat is parched, my tongue sticks to my jaws.

Many evil people attack me.
They make holes in my hands and my feet.
They await my death.

They divide my clothing among them,
they throw a dice for my robe.

Yet I know Lord, that  you are good and holy.
I know how you heard the cries of our ancestors and you helped them.

It was you who took me from the womb
and entrusted me to my mother's breast.

To you I was committed from my birth,
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Lord, I trust in you even now.
I trust you will not scorn my prayer.

Even now I praise you as my Creator.
May all the nations know and worship you.

Reflection:
So many things in this psalm apply to Jesus.
And Jesus is with anyone who is going through the sort of suffering described in this psalm

Prayer: Lord, please help people who are in Psalm 22 type situations
to remember that you are with them

 

Reading:  Galatians 2

Through faith in Christ Jesus, you are children of God.

When you were baptized, you entered into a special relationship of friendship with Christ

This relationship cancels out old labels like Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. These old labels have been replaced by a new one hanging around your heart: Made in Christ

Reflection: 
People born in HK joke about "being made in HK".
After Baptism, we can say "made in Christ"

Prayer: Jesus, help me better understand your relationship with me

 

Reading:  Luke 1

When John was named, his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
and said "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. He has visited his people.
And you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him"

When John grew older, he lived in the wilderness until the time came for him to begin his ministry

Reflection:
All parents have hopes and dreams for their babies. The Holy Spirit told Zechariah want to hope and dream for. And his dream came true

Prayer: Jesus, please fulfill the (reasonable) hopes and dreams of parents for their children