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 18 

Moses' father-in-law, Jethro,  heard about all
that God had done for Moses and the Israelites,
so he visited Moses in the desert.

Jethro saw that Moses was struggling
to do so much administration by himself.

Jethro suggested that Moses appoint men to help him:
leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Moses accepted this advice
and appointed judges as Jethro suggested.

These judges handled all small issues
and referred only difficult cases to Moses.

Reflection:
Jethro's idea of shared responsibility is enshrined in the principle of subsidiarity ....which in recent years the Catholic Church has neglected/ignored, but which Pope Francis is now trying to revive

Prayer: Dear God, please  make us willing 
to share responsibilities with other people

Reading: Psalm 73

Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good?

But then I realize that everyone someday has to pay the bill
for all the evil they have bought in the world.

Sometimes when I see our world  and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us?

Then I remember that God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people.

So may all people honor the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.

Reflection: 
All evil regimes eventually fall, because within them they have the seeds of destruction in the form of corruption, lies, hatred, pride etc

Prayer: Lord, help us to be good people, especially in the face of evil

Reading:  Philippians 1 

My chains have become famous and have given courage to many other believers. Many others are now becoming more daring in announcing the Message without fear

I hope and trust that I will always have courage for Christ to be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death

My heart wants to go two ways. One part wants to depart this world  and live for ever with Christ in heaven. The other part wants to stay in this world to help more people to know the Lord

Reflection:
One way of receiving an increase of courage is to study and reflect on the courageous example of others.  e.g. to read about people like Mandela, Gandhi, Romero, Mary MacKillop, Thomas More

Prayer: Jesus, give me more  courage in upholding Christian values in today's changing world

Reading:  Luke 7

Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. In the town there was a Roman soldier, a centurion, who had a dear servant who has sick and close to death

Having heard about Jesus, the centurion sent some Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant

The Jewish friends said to Jesus "He deserves this of you. He is friendly to our people. He is the one who built our prayer hall"

Jesus went with them,  but before they reached the house the centurion sent some servants with the message "Sir, I am not worthy to receive you into my house. This is why I didn't come to you personally.  Just say a word, and my servant will be healed"

When Jesus heard these words, he said to the crowd following him
"I have not found faith as great as this man's"

When the messengers got back to the house,
they saw that the servant was healed and in perfect health

Reflection:
Here as in so many Gospel healing stories: a link between healing and faith.
Studies on the link between prayer and healing show that healing is more common in less-sophisticated but more trusting societies ...where faith is stronger, more child-like

Prayer: 
Jesus,  I am not worthy to receive you.  Say but the word and I shall be healed