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 45 

When Joseph realized his older brothers
were sorry for having sold him as a slave
he was overcome and started crying loudly.

He told his brothers "I  am your brother Joseph
whom you sold into Egypt.
God sent me here to provide food for you".

He hugged all his brothers and talked with them.
Joseph told his brothers to bring their father
and their families to Egypt
since the famine would last for five more years.

Pharaoh was pleased that Joseph's brothers had come
and warmly invited them to live in Egypt.

The brothers returned to Canaan.
They told their father that Joseph was alive.
Their father Jacob was overcome with joy.

Reflection:
This 3 minute video (..presumably genuine..) can help us imagine Jacob's joy at knowing Joseph was still alive:
Syrian father collapsed in tears as he is reunited with young son he thought had been killed in chemical attack

Prayer: Dear God, please help separated family members
to be re-united again

Reading: Psalm 31

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in distress.
My eyes are full of tears, my heart full of sorrow.

Everyone makes fun of me. My friends don't want to know me.
Save me, Lord, from this mess.

I praise you Lord, for you protect those who trust you.
You keep them safe from slander and lies.

Be strong, let your heart take courage,
all you who  trust in the Lord

Reflection:
In late 1598, in Beijing, at the time of China's war with Japan in Korea...a time of anti-foreign sentiment in Beijing, "so nervous did many officials become about being associated with foreigners, that some old friends, and others to whom Ricci had letters of introduction, did not want to be publicly associated with him"  (Andrew Ross,  A Vision Betrayed  - The Jesuits in Japan and China, 1542-1742 - p. 133)

Prayer: Jesus, when people don't want to know me, please increase my trust in you

Reading:  Galatians 6

As for me, the only thing I boast about is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world

It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not.
What matters is that we become a new creature

From now on, I want no more trouble from you.
The scars on my body were suffered for the sake of Jesus

May his grace be with you

Reflection: 
For Paul, the Cross of Jesus and the Resurrection of Jesus constitute the foundation of Christianity.  Church buildings should have both a Cross and a Resurrection image. Spirituality which deletes the Cross is virus-infected

Prayer: Jesus, may I look at everything in the world with your eyes from the Cross

Reading:  Luke 3

In the 15th year of the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod was ruler of Galilee and during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's message entered the heart of John son of Zechariah in the wilderness

John went through the whole Jordan River area proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

This had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah when he said
"A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord"

Reflection:
All Christians, no matter what our situation, must also try to do whatever we can to prepare a way for Jesus in the world around us ....basically by a good life, but also by prayer for other people....and sometimes by special words/actions

Prayer: Jesus, please help me do a bit more to prepare a way for you in the hearts of people I see each day