March 21, 2013
Thursday 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. Nicholas of Flue
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=184
St. Enda
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=700
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Genesis 17:3-9
3 Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
4 "As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring*or, seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring†or, seed after you.
8 I will give to you, and to your offspring‡or, seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God."
9 God said to Abraham, "As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your offspring§or, seed after you throughout their generations.
*17:7: or, seed
†17:7: or, seed
‡17:8: or, seed
§17:9: or, seed
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Gospel: John 8:51-59
51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."
52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'
53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."
57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.§or, I am"
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
§8:58: or, I am
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* Hebrews 12:1-13
1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don't grow weary, fainting in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children,
"My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord,
nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens,
and scourges every son whom he receives."☆Proverbs 3:11-12
7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.
9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
12 Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, ☆Isaiah 35:3
13 and make straight paths for your feet,☆Proverbs 4:26 so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
☆12:6: Proverbs 3:11-12
☆12:12: Isaiah 35:3
☆12:13: Proverbs 4:26
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