3.19.2012

Today's Bible story

March 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.

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+ Saints: St. Joseph

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+ First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

4 It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,

5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in?

12 When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;

16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."'"

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+ Psalm: Psalms 89:1-4, 26, 28

1 I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever.
With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2 I indeed declare, "Love stands firm forever.
You established the heavens.
Your faithfulness is in them."

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David, my servant,

4 'I will establish your seed forever,
and build up your throne to all generations.'"

26 He will call to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, and the rock of my salvation!'

28 I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore.
My covenant will stand firm with him.

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+ Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

17 As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations."‡Genesis 17:5 This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So will your seed be."§Genesis 15:5

22 Therefore it also was "reckoned to him for righteousness."**Genesis 15:6

‡4:17: Genesis 17:5

§4:18: Genesis 15:5

**4:22: Genesis 15:6

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+ Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus†"Jesus" means "Salvation.", who is called Christ.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."

24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

*1:1: Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean "Anointed One"

†1:16: "Jesus" means "Salvation."

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+ Today's Reading: Hebrews 11:1-16

1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,*or, reverence prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen†TR adds "and being convinced of" them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

*11:7: or, reverence

†11:13: TR adds "and being convinced of"

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