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:  Numbers 21

In order to avoid the land of Edom,
the Israelites headed towards the coastline.

But the people again criticized God and Moses.

So God sent  snakes among the people
and many people died.

The people then said to Moses "We have sinned; please pray for us to save us".

Moses prayed for them, and God heard his prayer.

God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole.

Anyone bitten by a snake could then look at the bronze snake and live

Reflection:
Jesus' words  (John 3.13):
 "The Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, 
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him".

Prayer:  Jesus, please help me often look at a crucifix

Reading: Psalm 126

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.

What marvels the Lord worked for us.
Indeed we were glad.

Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.

They go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing.
They come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

Reflection:
Recently I received a phone call from a man just out of prison. 
"I'm free!  I'm free!" he kept saying.
That's how the Jewish people felt when they were allowed to leave captivity in Babylon and return to their own land.
That's how addicts feel when they succeed in breaking an addiction.
That's how we'll all feel someday when we leave our captivity here on earth and return to our home in Heaven.

Prayer: Dear God, please free us from all bondage

Reading:  1 Timothy 6

As a man of God, avoid things like greed and disputes

You must aim to be a saint, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle

Fight the good fight of the faith, and win for yourself eternal life

Be a constant witness to goodness and truth, like Jesus who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate

Reflection: 
Pope Francis is calling on every Christian to be a constant witness to goodness and truth

Prayer: Jesus, please help me be a better witness to goodness and truth

Reading:  Luke 21

Jesus said to his disciples that Jerusalem would be destroyed and its people scattered throughout the world

He also spoke of how his followers would be persecuted,  and of the end of the world: "The planets will be shaken, nations will be in agony,  bewildered by the force of the oceans. Then they will see me coming in a cloud with great power and glory

To prepare for your own end of earthly life, stay faithful to prayer and goodness. Don't let your heart be coarsened by debauchery, drunkenness and material cares"

In this his final week on earth, Jesus spent the daytime in the Temple, teaching. From early morning the people would gather round him to listen to him. Then he would spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

Reflection: 
It's not easy in today's world to stay faithful to prayer and goodness ....there are so many distractions

Prayer: Jesus, please help me stay faithful to prayer and goodness