Today's Bible story

February 29, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+ Saints: St. Oswald

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+ First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10

1 Yahweh's word came to Jonah the second time, saying,

2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you."

3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh's word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey across.

4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried out, and said, "In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!"

5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.

6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.

9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"

10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 51:1-2,10-11,16-17

1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Don't throw me from your presence,
and don't take your holy Spirit from me.

16 For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise

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+ Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.

30 For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation.

31 The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.

32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.

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+ Today's Reading: Exodus (10:21-11:10)

21 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt."

22 Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

23 They didn't see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24 Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you."

25 Moses said, "You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.

26 Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don't know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there."

27 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let them go.

28 Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!"

29 Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more."

1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Yet one plague more will I bring on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.

2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold."

3 Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

4 Moses said, "This is what Yahweh says: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt,

5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of livestock.

6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor shall be any more.

7 But against any of the children of Israel a dog won't even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal; that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.

8 All these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, "Get out, with all the people who follow you"; and after that I will go out.'" He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

9 Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh won't listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he didn't let the children of Israel go out of his land.

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Today's Bible story

February 28, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+ Saints: Blessed Villana de'Botti

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+ First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky,
and doesn't return there, but waters the earth,
and makes it grow and bud,
and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11 so shall my word be that goes out of my mouth:
it shall not return to me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 35:4-7, 16-19

4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor.
Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind,
Yahweh's angel driving them on.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
Yahweh's angel pursuing them.

7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me.
Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

16 Like the profane mockers in feasts,
they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my soul from their destruction,
my precious life from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly.
I will praise you among many people.

19 Don't let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me;
neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

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+ Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

7 In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

8 Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

9 Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.*NU omits "For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen." '

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

*6:13:NU omits "For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

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+ Today's Reading: Exodus (6:29-7:25)

29 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "I am Yahweh. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you."

30 Moses said before Yahweh, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?"

1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

3 I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them."

6 Moses and Aaron did so. As Yahweh commanded them, so they did.

7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Perform a miracle!' then you shall tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.'"

10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments.

12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

13 Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

14 Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.

15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river's bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

16 You shall tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:" and behold, until now you haven't listened.

17 Thus says Yahweh, "In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river."'"

19 Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"

20 Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.

22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he didn't even take this to heart.

24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn't drink of the water of the river.

25 Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river.

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Today's Bible story

February 27, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+ Saints: Blessed Maria Caridad Brader

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+ First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, 'You shall be holy; for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.

11 "'You shall not steal.
"'You shall not lie.
"'You shall not deceive one another.

12 "'You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.

13 "'You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him.
"'The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.

14 "'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.

15 "'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.

16 "'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people.
"'You shall not endanger the life* of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.

17 "'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

18 "'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 19:7-9,14

7 Yahweh's law is perfect, restoring the soul.
Yahweh's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

8 Yahweh's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.
Yahweh's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever.
Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.

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+ Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.

36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?

38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

40 "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers†, you did it to me.'

41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

44 "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

45 "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, because you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'

46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

†25:40: The word for "brothers" here may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."

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+ Today's Reading: Exodus 6:2-13

2 God spoke to Moses, and said to him, "I am Yahweh;

3 and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.

4 I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.

5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.

6 Therefore tell the children of Israel, 'I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:

7 and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.'"

9 Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn't listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

11 "Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land."

12 Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel haven't listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, who am of uncircumcised lips?"

13 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

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Today's Bible story

February 26, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+ Saints: St. Alexander

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+ First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15

8 God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

9 "As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,

10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth.

11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood, neither will there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth."

12 God said, "This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,

15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 25:4-9

4 I have not sat with deceitful men,
neither will I go in with hypocrites.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence,
so I will go about your altar, Yahweh;

7 that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard,
and tell of all your wondrous works.

8 Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house,
the place where your glory dwells.

9 Don't gather my soul with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men;

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+ Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

19 in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

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+ Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

13 He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.

14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God,

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News."

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+ Today's Reading: Exodus 5:1-6:1

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"

2 Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don't know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

3 They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword."

4 The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!"

5 Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."

6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don't let them pay any attention to lying words."

10 The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw.

11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.'"

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, "Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!"

14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick!' and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."

17 But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.'

18 Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!"

19 The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!"

20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came out from Pharaoh:

21 and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

22 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all."

1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land."

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Today's Bible story

February 25, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+ Saints: Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani

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+ First Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14

9b You shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'
"If you take away from your midst the yoke, the putting out of the finger, and speaking wickedly;

10 and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then your light shall rise in darkness, and your obscurity be as the noonday;

11 and Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make strong your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters don't fail.

12 Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:

14 then you shall delight yourself in Yahweh; and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father:"
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 87:1-6

A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song.
1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.

2 Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3 Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God.

Selah.

4 I will record Rahab* and Babylon among those who acknowledge me.
Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia:
"This one was born there."

5 Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her";
the Most High himself will establish her.

6 Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples,
"This one was born there."

Selah.

*87:4: Rahab is a reference to Egypt.

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+ Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"

28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.

29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"

31 Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

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+ Today's Reading: Exodus 3:1-20

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God's mountain, to Horeb.

2 Yahweh's* angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 Moses said, "I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."

4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!"
He said, "Here I am."

5 He said, "Don't come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground."

6 Moreover he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Yahweh said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

8 I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

11 Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

12 He said, "Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

13 Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you;' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Israel this: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

15 God said moreover to Moses, "You shall tell the children of Israel this, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt;

17 and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey."'

18 They will listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.'

19 I know that the king of Egypt won't give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in its midst, and after that he will let you go.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 24, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints:
Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco
St. Victorinus

-----

+ First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a

1 "Cry aloud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and didn't forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.

3 'Why have we fasted,' say they, 'and you don't see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge?'
"Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.

4 Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you don't fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?

6 "Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

7 Isn't it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break out as the morning, and your healing shall spring out speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; Yahweh's glory shall be your rear guard.

9a Then you shall call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 51:1-2,3-4ab,16-17

1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions.
My sin is constantly before me.

4ab Against you, and you only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in your sight;

16 For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

-----

+ Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

14 Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

-----

+ Today's Reading: Exodus 2:1-22

1 A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.

2 The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.

3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.

4 His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.

5 Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it.

6 She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?"

8 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go."
The maiden went and called the child's mother.

9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages."
The woman took the child, and nursed it.

10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses,* and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."

11 In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.

12 He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, "Why do you strike your fellow?"

14 He said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?"
Moses was afraid, and said, "Surely this thing is known."

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

17 The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, "How is it that you have returned so early today?"

19 They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock."

20 He said to his daughters, "Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."

21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter.

22 She bore a son, and he named him Gershom,† for he said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land."

*2:10: "Moses" sounds like the Hebrew for "draw out".

†2:22: "Gershom" sounds like the Hebrew for "an alien there".

-----

Today's Bible story

February 23, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Polycarp of Smyrna

-----

+ First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 Behold, I have set before you this day life and prosperity, and death and evil.

16 For I command you this day to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it.
17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce to you this day, that you will surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants;

20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 1:1-4,6

1 Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand on the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in Yahweh's* law.
On his law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
that produces its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The wicked are not so,
but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall perish.

*1:2: "Yahweh" is God's proper Name, sometimes rendered "LORD" (all caps) in other translations.

-----

+ Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,†and follow me.

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

-----

+ Today's Reading: Exodus 1:1-22

1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 All the souls who came out of Jacob's body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation.

7 The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn't know Joseph.

9 He said to his people, "Behold,* the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land."

11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,

14 and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

15 The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,

16 and he said, "When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."

17 But the midwives feared God,† and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.

18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?"

19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

20 God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.

21 Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive."

*1:9: "Behold", from "??????", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

†1:17: The Hebrew word rendered "God" is "Elohim".

-----

Today's Bible story

February 22, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: Chair of Saint Peter

-----

+ First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

12 "Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart,
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."

13 Tear your heart, and not your garments,
and turn to Yahweh, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,
and relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Sanctify a fast.
Call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people.
Sanctify the assembly.
Assemble the elders.
Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.
Let the bridegroom go out of his room,
and the bride out of her room.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar,
and let them say, "Spare your people, Yahweh,
and don't give your heritage to reproach,
that the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

18 Then Yahweh was jealous for his land,
And had pity on his people.

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 51:1-4ab,10-12,15

1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions.
My sin is constantly before me.

4ab Against you, and you only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in your sight;

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Don't throw me from your presence,
and don't take your holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit.

15 Lord, open my lips.
My mouth shall declare your praise.

-----

+ Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6:1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

2 for he says,
"At an acceptable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you."☆
Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

☆6:2: Isaiah 49:8

-----

+ Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,

4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

16 "Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

-----

+ Today's Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12

1 "Cry aloud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and didn't forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.

3 'Why have we fasted,' say they, 'and you don't see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge?'
"Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.

4 Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you don't fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?

6 "Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

7 Isn't it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break out as the morning, and your healing shall spring out speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; Yahweh's glory shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'
"If you take away from your midst the yoke, the putting out of the finger, and speaking wickedly;

10 and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then your light shall rise in darkness, and your obscurity be as the noonday;

11 and Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make strong your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters don't fail.

12 Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 21, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Peter Damian

-----

+ First Reading: James 4:1-10

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."☆

7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

☆4:6: Proverbs 3:34

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 55:6-10,22-23

6 I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

7 Behold, then I would wander far off.
I would lodge in the wilderness."

Selah.

8 "I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm."

9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls.

Selah.

22 Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
but I will trust in you.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

30 They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it.

31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again."

32 But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?"
34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."

36 He took a little child, and set him in their midst. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,

37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."

-----

+ Today's Reading: コリント人への第二の手紙(2:12-3:6)

12 Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn't find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;

16 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;

5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 20, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto

-----

+ First Reading: James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 19:7-9,14

7 Yahweh's law is perfect, restoring the soul.
Yahweh's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

8 Yahweh's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.
Yahweh's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever.
Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.

15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.

16 He asked the scribes, "What are you asking them?"

17 One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able."

19 He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me."

20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.

21 He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?"
He said, "From childhood.

22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!"

26 Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, "He is dead."

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"

29 He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."

-----

+ Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:15-2:11)

15 In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;

16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.

17 When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"

18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."

20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen", to the glory of God through us.

21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.

24 Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

2:1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

2 For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn't have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.

6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;

7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.

9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 19, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Conrad of Piacenza

-----

+ First Reading: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25

18 "Don't remember the former things,
and don't consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing.
It springs out now.
Don't you know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.

21 the people which I formed for myself,
that they might declare my praise.
22 Yet you have not called on me, Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, Israel.

24b but you have burdened me with your sins.
You have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;
and I will not remember your sins.

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 41:1-4,12-13

1 Blessed is he who considers the poor.
Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.

2 Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive.
He shall be blessed on the earth,
and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.

3 Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed,
and restore him from his bed of illness.

4 I said, "Yahweh, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,
from everlasting and to everlasting!
Amen and amen.

-----

+ Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."

20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen", to the glory of God through us.

21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house.

2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"— he said to the paralytic —

11 "I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house."

12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

-----

+ Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

7 Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.

8 For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers,* concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,

10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;

11 you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

13 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end;

14 as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 18, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Simon

-----

+ First Reading: James 3:1-10

1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

4 Behold,* the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.†

7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

*3:4: "Behold", from "?δο?", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

†3:6: or, Hell

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 12:1-4,6-7

1 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases.
For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 Everyone lies to his neighbor.
They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts,

4 who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail.
Our lips are our own.
Who is lord over us?"

6 Yahweh's words are flawless words,
as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 You will keep them, Yahweh.
You will preserve them from this generation forever.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 9:2-13

2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.

3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

6 For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid.

7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from the dead" meant.

11 They asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

12 He said to them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?

13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him."

-----

+ Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you;
2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

8 neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;

9 not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

13 But you, brothers, don't be weary in doing well.

14 If any man doesn't obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

15 Don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

17 The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 17, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

-----

+ First Reading: James 2:14-24, 26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16 and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled"; and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

18 Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness";☆ and he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

☆2:23: Genesis 15:6

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 113:1-6

1 Praise Yah!
Praise, you servants of Yahweh,
praise Yahweh's name.

2 Blessed be Yahweh's name,
from this time forward and forever more.

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same,
Yahweh's name is to be praised.

4 Yahweh is high above all nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like Yahweh, our God,
who has his seat on high,

6 Who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth?

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.

36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life?

38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

1 He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power."

-----

+ Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you

2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come.

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

5 Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?

6 Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;

9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie;

12 that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;

14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 16, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Onesimus

-----

+ First Reading: James 2:1-9

1 My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue,* and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in;

3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place"; and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool";

4 haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

7 Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"☆ you do well.

9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

*2:2: or, meeting

☆2:8: Leviticus 19:18

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 35:2-7

2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and stand up for my help.

3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me.
Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."

4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor.
Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind,
Yahweh's angel driving them on.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
Yahweh's angel pursuing them.

7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me.
Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"

28 They told him, "John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets."

29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.

31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men."

-----

+ Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers,* even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;

4 so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.

5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

6 Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,

8 giving vengeance to those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,

9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.

11 To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power;

12 that the name of our Lord Jesus† may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

*1:3: The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."

†1:12: TR adds "Christ"

-----

Today's Bible story

February 15, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints: St. Claude de la Colombie`re

-----

+ First Reading: James 1:19-27

19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.†

22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

†1:21: or, preserve your life.

-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 14:2-6

2 Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men,
to see if there were any who understood,
who sought after God.

3 They have all gone aside.
They have together become corrupt.
There is no one who does good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and don't call on Yahweh?

5 There they were in great fear,
for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 You frustrate the plan of the poor,
because Yahweh is his refuge.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 8:22-26

22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.

23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.

24 He looked up, and said, "I see men; for I see them like trees walking."

25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.

26 He sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village."

-----

+ Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.

3 For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

4 But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

5 You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness,

6 so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.

8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God didn't appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

12 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work's sake.
Be at peace among yourselves.

14 We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.

15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.

16 Rejoice always.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

19 Don't quench the Spirit.

20 Don't despise prophesies.

21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.

22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

-----

Today's Bible story

February 14, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

-----

+ Saints:Sts. Cyril and Methodius

-----

+ First Reading: James 1:12-18

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

18 Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
-----

+ Psalm: Psalms 94:12-13a,14-15,18-19

12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah,
and teach out of your law;

13a that you may give him rest from the days of adversity,

14 For Yahweh won't reject his people,
neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15 For judgment will return to righteousness.
All the upright in heart shall follow it.

18 When I said, "My foot is slipping!"
Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.

19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me,
your comforts delight my soul.

-----

+ Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 He warned them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

16 They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread."

17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?

18 Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?"
They told him, "Twelve."

20 "When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?"
They told him, "Seven."

21 He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"

-----

+ Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

1 Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.

2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,

4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God;

6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

8 Therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

9 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

10 for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;

11 and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;

12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

13 But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,

17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

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Today's Bible story

February 13, 2012

We hope that today is a good day.

Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php

Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/

We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.

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+Saints: St. Catherine de Ricci

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+ First Reading: James 1:1-11

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers*, when you fall into various temptations,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

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+ Psalm: Psalms 119:67,68,71,72,75,76

67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray;
but now I observe your word.

68 You are good, and do good.
Teach me your statutes.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

75 Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous,
that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76 Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort,
according to your word to your servant.

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+ Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.

12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation *seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."

13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.

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+ Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13

2:13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews;

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are contrary to all men;

16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

18 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our Lord Jesus* at his coming?

20 For you are our glory and our joy.

*2:19: TR adds "Christ"

3:1 Therefore when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

5 For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;

7 for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you;

12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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