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:  Judges 16

Samson went to Gaza and entered the house of a prostitute.
The men of Gaza tried to capture Samson
but he eluded them.

Samson then fell in love with a woman called Delilah.
The Philistine leaders pressured Delilah 
to find out the secret of Samson's great strength.

Day after day Delilah pestered Samson
until he told her his secret:

"A razor has never touched my head,
because I have been specially dedicated to God from my birth.
If my hair is cut, I will lose my strength."

Delilah then cut Samson's hair while he was asleep
and called the Philistines to capture him.

The Philistines bound Samson,  put out his eyes
and chained him in a prison in Gaza.
But in prison, Samson's hair began to grow again.

The Philistines held a special ceremony in a large building
to celebrate the capture of Samson.

They paraded Samson at the ceremony
and then made him stand between two pillars.

Samson prayed to God for strength one more time
and the Lord heard his prayer.

He then used his great strength
to pull down the main pillars supporting the building.

In this way, at his death, 
Samson killed more Philistines than before he went to prison.

Reflection: 
A final reminder at the end of this story: 
Samson's strength came from God (c.f. today's psalm, below!)

Prayer:  Dear Lord,  you once gave strength to Samson.
 Please give me strength to face the battles of life.

Reading:  Psalms 66-68

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shine its light upon us.

Let all the peoples praise you, O God.
Let all the peoples praise you.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name.
Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,
God provides a shelter for the homeless.

God gives his people strength.

Reflection: 
The writer of this psalm had a "universal", "catholic" outlook 
- he thought not just of his own nation, but of the whole world - "let all the peoples praise you".
Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics to "go out" from our own little world/parish/school to people in need 
...he is asking Catholics to be catholic as in "universal"

Prayer: May all the peoples of the earth (including the Philistines!)  know you and praise you, O God

Reading:  Two Peter 1

As long as I am in this passing world, my duty is to keep on reminding you of the truths we hold dear

Writing this letter is one way of making sure that after my departure you will still have a way of recalling the truths we hold dear

These truths are not cleverly invented myths.
I myself saw the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ

He was honored and glorified by God the Father,
 when the Sublime Glory himself spoke to him and said
"This is my Son, the Beloved. He enjoys my favor"

I heard this myself, spoken from heaven,
when I was with Jesus on the holy mountain

Reflection: 
From the beginning of Christianity,  people try to water down the Gospels and explain away Jesus' miracles, so Peter, above, says "These truths are not cleverly invented myths"

Prayer:  Jesus, Beloved Son, may more and more people
accept the truth of your Good News

Reading:  John 12

People who had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover,
heard that Jesus was coming down to Jerusalem from Bethany

They used palm branches as they  went out to meet him, shouting "Hosanna! Blessings on the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord"

Jesus rode a young donkey down the hill, just as the Scriptures had predicted: "Daughter of Sion, behold! Your king is coming, mounted on the colt of a donkey"

Some religious leaders said to each other "Look, there is nothing you can do. The whole world is running after him"

Reflection:
What can I do to help more people know that Jesus has come to our city/town?

Prayer: Jesus, humbly entering Jerusalem on a donkey, may you be known and welcomed and praised by the whole world