March 20, 2013
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
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/
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+ Saints: St. Herbert
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=183
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Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28
14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good: but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire? They answered the king, True, O king.
25 He answered, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
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Gospel: John 8:31-42
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ☆Psalm 119:45
33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's offspring,†or, seed and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
35 A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham's offspring,‡or, seed yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."
39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham."
Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.
41 You do the works of your father."
They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."
42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.
☆8:32: Psalm 119:45
†8:33: or, seed
‡8:37: or, seed
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* Hebrews 11:32-40
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;
33 who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,☆Daniel 6:22-23
34 quenched the power of fire,☆Daniel 3:1-30 escaped the edge of the sword,☆1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31-7:20 from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
35 Women received their dead by resurrection.☆1 Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37 Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned.☆2 Chronicles 24:20-21 They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.☆Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10 They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise,
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
☆11:33: Daniel 6:22-23
☆11:34: Daniel 3:1-30
☆11:34: 1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31-7:20
☆11:35: 1 Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37
☆11:37: 2 Chronicles 24:20-21
☆11:37: Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10
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