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:  Two Samuel 8-9

Wherever David went, the Lord gave him success and victory.

David  showed kindness to Saul's family.

Meribbaal, son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul
was crippled in both feet.

David restored Saul's property to Meribbaal
and arranged for Meribbaal to eat at the royal table each day.

Reflection: 
Even though Saul had treated David so badly, David treated Saul's family with kindness, not hostility. Forgiveness to enemies was not all that common in ancient times. David had a Christian heart

Prayer: Lord, help us show kindness to people who treat us badly

Reading:  Psalm 102

O Lord, listen to my prayer in my distress.
Do not hide your face from me.

For my days are vanishing like smoke,
my bones burn away like a fire.

I forget to eat my bread.
My skin clings to my bones.

All day long my foes revile me.
Those who hate me use my name as a curse.

But you, O Lord, will endure for ever.
You will arise and have mercy on Sion.

You will hear the groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die.

I pray to you: "Do not take me away before my time has come,
you whose days last from age to age.

Reflection: 
This is a special prayer for people experiencing great distress, physical or mental.
Very often all they can do is "hang in there", like Jesus on the Cross.
Like Jesus on the Cross, all they can do is try to think of the day of resurrection following the day of crucifixion

Prayer:  Lord, please help people who are in great distress. Help them "hang in there"

Reading:  Revelation 12 

A great sign appeared in heaven:
a Woman, dressed in the sun, standing on the moon,
crowned with 12 stars

She was giving birth to a Child,
and she cried out in the pain of childbirth

Then a second sign appeared:
a huge red dragon, which wanted to eat the Child

The Woman gave birth to a Son, the ruler of all nations

The Son was taken straight up to heaven, to God on his throne.
The Woman escaped to safety in the desert,
to a place prepared for her by God

Reflection:
Catholic liturgy sees Mary as the Woman of these words.
The dragon is Satan. Satan is no match for the Woman's Son

Jesus, Son of Mary, please protect us from Satan

Reading:  Matthew 8

In the town of Capernaum, a Roman army captain said to Jesus
"Sir, my servant is paralyzed and in great pain."
Jesus replied "I will go and heal him".

But the captain said
"Sir, I am not worthy that you should enter my house.
Just say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I understand orders. I give an order, and people act.
I know that you also just need to give an order,
and my servant will be healed".

Jesus said
"This foreigner's faith is greater than that of the local people.
And I  tell you that in the future
people from all parts of the world will be in the kingdom of heaven".

Then Jesus said to the captain
"Go home. Your request made in faith is granted".

And the servant was healed at that moment.

Reflection:
Not always, but very often, in the Gospels and in today's world, there's a link between faith and healing

Prayer:  Jesus, please give more people,
 from all parts of the world, the faith of the captain