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 us hope, wisdom, compassion,
courage and peace for our daily life     Chinese text

  Reading:  Exodus 9 

Through Moses, God kept saying to Pharaoh
"Let my people go to offer me worship."
But Pharaoh kept refusing to let the people go.

So God sent three more plagues:
all the Egyptians' animals died,
then all the Egyptians were covered with boils,
then the land was hit by a fierce hailstorm.

During the hailstorm, Pharaoh said the people could go.
But as soon as the storm stopped, he changed his mind again.

Reflection:
"A cat has nine lives" ....Pharaoh had nine chances to obey God's message and let the Israelites go.  Nine times Pharaoh said "no". 

Prayer: Dear God, please help us not to ignore your voice

Reading: Psalms 49, 50

I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve a problem.

The problem is: why do bad people prosper and succeed?

The answer: at the end of their lives bad people will have to face death and judgement, just like everyone else.

When we are rich, we often lack wisdom.
Wealth blinds our minds and hearts.

Let's not forgot God and his laws.
Let's try to be good and lead good lives

Reflection: 
Bad people's prosperity is false prosperity.
It's more like a bad debt growing "badder" each day.
It's held not in US$ but in Hell$.
In the end: bankruptcy....

Prayer: Lord, please help me better understand that the only real success and only real prosperity is held in Heaven$....by love of you and help to others

Reading:  Ephesians 4 

You must give up your old way of life.
You must put aside your old self and its delusions

Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution, so that you can follow a way of life based on goodness and truth

From now on, no more lies.
Delete anger from your mind at the end of each day

Anyone who was a thief must stop stealing. Try to find a decent job

Guard against foul talk.
Let your conversation encourage people, not drag them down

Avoid grudges. Don't lose your temper.
Don't raise your voice to anyone. Don't call people names

Be friends with one another, and kind,
forgiving one another as readily as God forgives us in Christ

Reflection: 
So much good advice in these words. St Paul was writing to real people with real problems. His basic principle: replace old habits with good ones

Prayer: Jesus, help me put these words into practice

Reading:  Luke 5

As Jesus walked along, he noticed a tax collector sitting by the customs house. The collector's name was Levi (Matthew)

Jesus said to him "Follow me".  Leaving everything, he got up and went with Jesus. In Jesus' honor Levi held a banquet in his house. Many  tax collectors and social outcasts were present

The religious leaders complained "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and outcasts?" 

Jesus replied "It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have come to call sinners, not the virtuous, to repentance"

Reflection:
Pope Francis is encouraging all Christians, especially Christian leaders, to reach out to "social outcasts", like Jesus. We need to ask ourselves: do I know, am I friends with anyone who is a "social outcast"?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for befriending people who were looked down on.
Please help me do likewise