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 17-21

After Samson's death, there was no leader in Israel
and everyone did as they pleased
as lawlessness and anarchy became widespread.

Reflection: 
In 2014 A.D. as in 1014 B.C.   ...... a lack of good leaders leads to corruption and a break down of law and order

Prayer:  Dear Lord,  please please give the world good leaders!

Reading:  Psalms 69-70

Save me, O God, for the waters have risen to my neck.
I am sinking fast and can't keep afloat much longer.

So many people hate me without cause.
I have no more strength to resist them.

May my situation not cause anyone to lose faith in you.
May people realize that it is for your sake that I am taunted.

Taunts have broken my heart.
No one shows me any compassion.

For food they give me poison.
In my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

Lord, do not hide your face from your servant.
Answer quickly for I am in distress.

You are my rescuer, my help, O God.
O Lord, do not delay to help me.

Reflection: 
"Hate without cause" - these words are applied especially to Jesus.
Paul explains why Christians can expect the same treatment: because the Spirit of Jesus is in them, and the Spirit's presence sends out signals, so to speak,  that cause "non-spiritual" or "less-spiritual" people's spirits to react 

Prayer: O God come to our  assistance. Lord make haste to help us ...especially when people hate us without cause

Reading:  Two Peter 1-3

We must be careful to understand Scripture according to God's mind.
We are not free to make up our own interpretations as we like

In the past there were false prophets. So there will always be false prophets and teachers who twist the truth to suit their own tastes and corrupt behavior.  They will have much to answer for when the Day of the Lord comes

Our brother Paul has written to you about this issue. Sometimes his writing is not easy to understand, and is distorted by false teachers

Avoid false teaching. Stand firm in the truth.
Go on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To him be glory, in time and in eternity. Amen

Reflection: 
How can we know when someone is misquoting the Bible?
Well, if we know our Bibles by daily reading and prayer, we'll be able to detect false teaching.
e.g. from my Bible reading I know that Jesus said to live simply, so ... if I hear someone preaching a "prosperity Gospel" (= come to my church and you'll become rich) I will "smell a rat"

Prayer:  Jesus,  please protect us from people who distort the Bible message

Reading:  John 12

Jesus said to his apostles Andrew and Philip "Now the time has come for me to be glorified.  Unless a wheat grain goes into the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain. But if it dies, it yields a rich harvest

Now sentence is being passed on this world. Now Satan is to be defeated. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself"

By these words, Jesus indicated the kind of death he would die

Reflection:
All Christians are called to be wheat grains ....putting others interests before our own ....in order to give help/life to others (...just like a mother putting her children's interests before her own)

Prayer: Jesus, Wheat Grain from Heaven, please help me "lose" my life by putting others' interests before my own