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

 Bible Blog   December 10, 2013     Comments welcome here

  Reading:  Numbers 11

Some of the Israelites started complaining
about not having meat to eat, only manna.

So God arranged for quails to land near the camp
and be easily caught for food.

About this time Moses selected seventy men
to help him care for the people.

God  blessed the seventy men and they began to prophesy.

Moses said "I wish the whole people of God could be prophets, 
and God would give his Spirit to them all".

Reflection:
Moses got it right: God's Spirit is meant for everyone, not just a chosen few

Prayer: Dear God, please pour out your Holy Spirit
 on the whole human family

 

Reading: Psalm 117

O Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Acclaim him, all you peoples!

Strong is his love for us.
He is faithful for ever.

Reflection: 
One of my favourite psalms
.....on the cover of Old Testament Simple Bible in English and in Chinese.
Also on my anniversary card of 1998

Prayer: May all the nations love and praise you, Lord

 

Reading:  1 Timothy 1

Timothy, my son, as I give you advice for practical issues, remember how the church elders prayed over you that you would be a good leader

My first bit of advice is that there should be prayers offered for everyone, especially for kings and others in authority, so that we can live our life of faith in peace and quiet

God wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth

There is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and humanity, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for everyone

In every place, I want believers to lift up their hands in reverent prayer

Reflection:
Paul says we should pray for
kings and others in authority. Which is why some priests pray for civic leaders at every Mass (in the Eucharistic Prayer:
Make us grow in love together with Francis our pope, ..... our bishop,
our civic leaders, and all who spread the Gospel)

Prayer: God our Father, through Jesus your Son, I ask a blessing on the leaders of our world, especially the leaders of my own country

 

Reading:  Luke 18

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to bless them. The disciples told the people to go away and not bother Jesus

But Jesus called the children to him and said "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs

I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it"


Reflection: 
Children have a right to know Jesus from their earliest days. Parents who say "let them decide for themselves when they grow up" need to reflect on the words
"Let the children come to me, and do not stop them". Neglecting a child's physical health is wrong. So too is neglecting a child's spiritual health

Prayer:
Jesus, please give all children the chance to know and love you