3.31.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 31, 2023

Have a good day!

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Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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Gospel : John 10:31-42

31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?"

33 The Jews answered him, "We don't stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God."

34 Jesus answered them, "Isn't it written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?'

35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can't be broken),

36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God?'

37 If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me.

38 But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.

40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptising at first, and there he stayed.

41 Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true."

42 Many believed in him there.

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Jeremiah 20:10-13

10 For I have heard the defaming of many,
"Terror on every side!
Denounce, and we will denounce him!"
say all my familiar friends,
those who watch for my fall.
"Perhaps he will be persuaded,
and we shall prevail against him,
and we shall take our revenge on him."

11 But the LORD is with me as an awesome mighty one.
Therefore my persecutors shall stumble,
and they shall not prevail.
They shall be utterly disappointed,
because they have not dealt wisely,
even with an everlasting dishonour which shall never be forgotten.

12 But, the LORD of Armies, who tests the righteous,
who sees the heart and the mind,
let me see your vengeance on them;
for to you have I revealed my cause.

13 Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD;
for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

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* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 31, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-31-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 31, 2023
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3.30.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 30, 2023

Have a good day!

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Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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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."

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.

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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 after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.

8 I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are travelling, 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 after you throughout their generations.


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* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 30, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-30-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 30, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/033023.cfm

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3.29.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 29, 2023

Have a good day!

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Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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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."

33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's offspring, 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, 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.

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Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95**

3:14 King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up?

15 Now, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I made, whenever you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, dulcimer, harp, double-flute, and all the other musical instruments, then all will be well; if not, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us* from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us!

18 But even if he will not, you should know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up."

19 Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual

20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

(Deliverance from the Furnace.)
91 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and rose in haste, asking his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Certainly, O king," they answered.

92 "But," he replied, "I see four men unbound and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."

95 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.


**
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3

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* The World English Bible
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◇ March 29, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-29-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 29, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032923.cfm

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-----

3.28.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 28, 2023

Have a good day!

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Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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Gospel : John 8:21-30

21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."

22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you can't come'?"

23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?"
Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."

27 They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."

30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

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Numbers 21:4-9

4 They travelled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.

5 The people spoke against God, and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread."

6 The LORD sent venomous snakes amongst the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.

7 The people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD, and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." Moses prayed for the people.

8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."

9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of brass, he lived.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 28, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-28-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 28, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032823.cfm

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-----

3.27.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 27, 2023

Have a good day!

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Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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Gospel : John 8:1-11

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.

3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle,

4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?"

6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of.
But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.

7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin amongst you, let him throw the first stone at her."

8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.

10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"

11 She said, "No one, Lord."
Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."

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Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

13:1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,

13:2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;

13:3 her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.

13:4 Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all.

13:5 That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."

13:6 These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.

13:7 When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.

13:8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.

13:9 They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.

13:15 One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.

13:16 Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.

13:17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids,
"and shut the garden doors while I bathe."

13:19 As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.

13:20 "Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.

13:21 If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."

13:22 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned.
"If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.

13:23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord."

13:24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,

13:25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.

13:26 When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.

13:27 At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.

13:28 When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.

13:29 Before all the people they ordered:
"Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim."
When she was sent for,

13:30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.

13:33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

13:34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.

13:35 Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.

13:36 The elders made this accusation:
"As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.

13:37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.

13:38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.

13:39 We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.

13:40 Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,

13:41 but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this."The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death.

13:42 But Susanna cried aloud:
"O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:

13:43 you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me."

13:44 The Lord heard her prayer.

13:45 As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,

13:46 and he cried aloud:
"I will have no part in the death of this woman."

13:47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"

13:48 He stood in their midst and continued,
"Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?

13:49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."

13:50 Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
"Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age."

13:51 But he replied,
"Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them."

13:52 After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
"How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:

13:53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
'The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'

13:54 Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together."

13:55 "Under a mastic tree," he answered.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two."

13:56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
"Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.

13:57 This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.

13:58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."

13:59 "Under an oak," he said.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both."

13:60 The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.

13:61 They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.

13:62 According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 27, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-27-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 27, 2023
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3.26.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 26, 2023

Have a good day!

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Fifth Sunday of Lent

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Gospel : John 11:1-45

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.

2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.

3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, "Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick."

4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God's Son may be glorified by it."

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let's go into Judea again."

8 The disciples told him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"

9 Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn't in him."

11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep."

12 The disciples therefore said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead.

15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go to him."

16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go also, that we may die with him."

17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.

18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.

19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.

20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.

21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died.

22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you."

23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.

26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God's Son, he who comes into the world."

28 When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, "The Teacher is here, and is calling you."

29 When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.

31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."

32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died."

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

34 and said, "Where have you laid him?"
They told him, "Lord, come and see."

35 Jesus wept.

36 The Jews therefore said, "See how much affection he had for him!"

37 Some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."

40 Jesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?"

41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me.

42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me."

43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.

----

Ezekiel 37:12-14

12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.

13 You shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.

14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it, says the LORD.

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Romans 8:8-11

8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 26, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-26-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 26, 2023
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3.25.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 25, 2023

Have a good day!

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Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

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Gospel : Luke 1:26-38

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David's house. The virgin's name was Mary.

28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!"

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing spoken by God is impossible."

38 Mary said, "Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word."
The angel departed from her.

-----

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

7:10 The LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

11 "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above."

12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD."

13 He said, "Listen now, house of David. Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

8:10 Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us."

-----

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,
"Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire,
but you prepared a body for me.

6 You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.

7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)
to do your will, O God.'"

8 Previously saying, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn't desire, neither had pleasure in them" (those which are offered according to the law),

9 then he has said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,

10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 25, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-25-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 25, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032523.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.24.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 24, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn't walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.

10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?"

25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this he whom they seek to kill?

26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?

27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from."

28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don't know.

29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."

30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

-----

Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22

1a For they said within themselves,

12 But let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
Because he is of disservice to us,
And is contrary to our works,
And upbraids us with sins against the law,
And lays to our charge sins against our discipline.

13 He professes to have knowledge of God,
And names himself servant of the Lord.

14 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts.

15 He is grievous to us even to behold,
Because his life is unlike other men's,
And his paths are of strange fashion.

16 We were accounted of him as base metal,
And he abstains from our ways as from uncleannesses.
The latter end of the righteous he calls happy;
And he vaunts that God is his father.

17 Let us see if his words be true,
And let us try what shall befall in the ending of his life.

18 For if the righteous man is God's son, he will uphold him,
And he will deliver him out of the hand of his adversaries.

19 With outrage and torture let us put him to the test,
That we may learn his gentleness,
And may prove his patience under wrong.

20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
For he shall be visited according to his words.

21 Thus reasoned they, and they were led astray;
For their wickedness blinded them,

22 And they knew not the mysteries of God,
Neither hoped they for wages of holiness,
Nor did they judge that there is a prize for blameless souls.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 24, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-24-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 24, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032423.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.23.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 23, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 5:31-47

31 "If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.

33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

38 You don't have his word living in you; because you don't believe him whom he sent.

39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

41 I don't receive glory from men.

42 But I know you, that you don't have God's love in yourselves.

43 I have come in my Father's name, and you don't receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don't seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 "Don't think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.

47 But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

-----

Exodus 32:7-14

7 The LORD spoke to Moses, "Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, 'These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.'"

9 The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation."

11 Moses begged the LORD his God, and said, "The LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?' Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against your people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'"

14 The LORD repented of the evil which he said he would do to his people.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 23, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-23-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 23, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032323.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.22.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 22, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 5:17-30

17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too."

18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.

22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgement to the Son,

23 that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who doesn't honour the Son doesn't honour the Father who sent him.

24 "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life.

25 Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

27 He also gave him authority to execute judgement, because he is a son of man.

28 Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,

29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgement.

30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

-----

Isaiah 49:8-15

8 the LORD says, "In an acceptable time I have answered you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.
I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people,
to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:

9 saying to those who are bound, 'Come out!';
to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves!'
"They shall feed along the paths,
and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst;
neither shall the heat nor sun strike them:
for he who has mercy on them will lead them.
He will guide them by springs of water.

11 I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be exalted.

12 Behold, these shall come from afar;
and behold, these from the north and from the west;
and these from the land of Sinim."

13 Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth;
and break out into singing, mountains:
for the LORD has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his afflicted.

14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
and the Lord has forgotten me."

15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 22, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-22-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 22, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032223.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.21.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 21, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 5:1-16

1 After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda", having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water;

4 for an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.

5 A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"

7 The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me."

8 Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk."

9 Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."

11 He answered them, "He who made me well, the same said to me, 'Take up your mat, and walk.'"

12 Then they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your mat, and walk'?"

13 But he who was healed didn't know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."

15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

-----

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

1 He brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was towards the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar.

2 Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks towards the east; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the waist.

5 Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.

6 He said to me, Son of man, have you seen? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.

7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8 Then he said to me, These waters flow out towards the eastern region, and will go down into the Arabah; and they will go towards the sea; and flow into the sea which will be made to flow out; and the waters will be healed.

9 It shall happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes.

12 By the river on its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall its fruit fail: it shall produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary; and its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for healing.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 21 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-21-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 21, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032123.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.20.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 20, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

-----

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

16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, 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 give birth to 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;

-----

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

4 That same night, the LORD's word came to Nathan, saying,

5a "Go and tell my servant David,

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

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

14a I will be his father, and he will be my son.

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

-----

Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring* 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 offspring, 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." 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 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So will your offspring be."

22 Therefore it also was "credited to him for righteousness."

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 20, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-20-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 20, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032023.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.19.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 19, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Fourth Sunday of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 9:1-41

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.

4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man's eyes with the mud,

7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.

8 The neighbours therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn't this he who sat and begged?"

9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him."
He said, "I am he."

10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?"

11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.' So I went away and washed, and I received sight."

12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?"
He said, "I don't know."

13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.

14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see."

16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division amongst them.

17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?"
He said, "He is a prophet."

18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,

19 and asked them, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

21 but how he now sees, we don't know; or who opened his eyes, we don't know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself."

22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him."

24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."

25 He therefore answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see."

26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't also want to become his disciples, do you?"

28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don't know where he comes from."

30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.

31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.

32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?"

37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."

38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshipped him.

39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgement, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."

40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"

41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

----

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13ab

1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself amongst his sons."

6 When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him."

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don't see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

10 Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?"
He said, "There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep."
Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12 He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, "Arise! Anoint him, for this is he."

13ab Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then the LORD's Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward.

-----

Ephesians 5:8-14

8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.

13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

14 Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 19, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-19-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 19, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031923.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.18.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 18, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Luke 18:9-14

9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'

13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

-----

Hosea 6:1-6

1 "Come, and let us return to the LORD;
for he has torn us to pieces,
and he will heal us;
he has injured us,
and he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us.
On the third day he will raise us up,
and we will live before him.

3 Let us acknowledge the LORD.
Let us press on to know the LORD.
As surely as the sun rises,
The LORD will appear.
He will come to us like the rain,
like the spring rain that waters the earth."

4 "Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your love is like a morning cloud,
and like the dew that disappears early.

5 Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets;
I killed them with the words of my mouth.
Your judgements are like a flash of lightning.

6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 18, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-18-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 18, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031823.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.17.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 17, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Mark 12:28-34

28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God's Kingdom has come upon you.

29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.

30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters.

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.

33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

-----

Hosea 14:1-9
(Hosea 14:2-10)+

1 Israel, return to the LORD your God;
for you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD.
Tell him, "Forgive all our sins,
and accept that which is good:
so we offer our lips like bulls.

3 Assyria can't save us.
We won't ride on horses;
neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!'
for in you the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their waywardness.
I will love them freely;
for my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.
He will blossom like the lily,
and send down his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,
and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade.
They will revive like the grain,
and blossom like the vine.
Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?
I answer, and will take care of him.
I am like a green cypress tree;
from me your fruit is found."

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
Who is prudent, that he may know them?
For the ways of the LORD are right,
and the righteous walk in them;
But the rebellious stumble in them.


+(Hosea 14:2-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/14

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 17, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-17-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 17, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031723.cfm

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https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
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-----

3.16.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 16, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Luke 11:14-23

14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marvelled.

15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."

16 Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.

18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

19 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore will they be your judges.

20 But if I by God's finger cast out demons, then God's Kingdom has come to you.

21 "When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.

22 But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armour in which he trusted, and divides his plunder.

23 "He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn't gather with me scatters.

-----

Jeremiah 7:23-28

23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, 'Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.'

24 But they didn't listen nor turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

26 yet they didn't listen to me, nor did they incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers.

27 "You shall speak all these words to them; but they will not listen to you: you shall also call to them; but they will not answer you.

28 You shall tell them, 'This is the nation that has not listened to the LORD their God's voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.'

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 16, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-16-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 16, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031623.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.15.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 15, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Matthew 5:17-19

17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

-----

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you.

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."

7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him?

8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you today?

9 Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children's children;

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 15, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-15-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 15, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031523.cfm

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http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.14.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 14, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"


22 Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.

24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'

27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'

29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'

30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.

31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.

33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'

34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."

-----

Daniel 3:25, 34-43☆

25 Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud:

34 For your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.

35 Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,

36 To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.

37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.

38 We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.

39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bulls,
or tens of thousands of fat lambs,

40 So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
and find favor before you;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.

41 And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we seek your face.
Do not put us to shame,

42 but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.

43 Deliver us in accord with your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord:


☆Daniel Prayer of Azariah.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3-25

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 14, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-14-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 14, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031423.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.13.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 13, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Luke 4:24-30

24 He said, "Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

25 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land.

26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

27 There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian."

28 They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things.

29 They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff.

30 But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.

-----

2 Kings 5:1-5a

(列王記下 5:1-15a)

2 Kgs 5:1-15ab

1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.

2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

3 She said to her mistress, "I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy."

4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, "The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this."

5 The king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel."
He departed, and took with him ten talents* of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy."

7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me."

8 It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean."

11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.'

12 Aren't Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them, and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean?'"

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, "See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant."

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 13, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-13-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 13, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031323.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

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http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.12.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 12, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Third Sunday of Lent

-----

Gospel : John 4:5-42

5 So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph.

6 Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."

8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water?

12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?"

13 Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I don't get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw."

16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

17 The woman answered, "I have no husband."
Jesus said to her, "You said well, 'I have no husband,'

18 for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly."

19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."

21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.

22 You worship that which you don't know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things."

26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who speaks to you."

27 At this, his disciples came. They marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, "What are you looking for?" or, "Why do you speak with her?"

28 So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people,

29 "Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?"

30 They went out of the city, and were coming to him. 31 In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you don't know about."

33 The disciples therefore said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"

34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

35 Don't you say, 'There are yet four months until the harvest?' Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

37 For in this the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.'

38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't laboured. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour."

39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, "He told me everything that I did."

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.

41 Many more believed because of his word.

42 They said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

----

Exodus 17:3-7

3 The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"

4 Moses cried to the LORD, saying, "What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

5 The LORD said to Moses, "Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarrelled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD amongst us, or not?"

-----

Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

5 and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.

8 But God commends his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 12, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-12-2023


◇ Daily Readings March 12, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031223.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.11.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 11, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."

3 He told them this parable.

11 He said, "A certain man had two sons.

12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them.

13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and travelled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.

14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.

17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger!

18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.

19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."'

20 "He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;

24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.

25 "Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.

27 He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.'

28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.

29 But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

31 "He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"

-----

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your heritage,
who dwell by themselves in a forest,
in the middle of fertile pasture land, let them feed;
in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

15 "As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them marvellous things."

18 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity,
and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage?
He doesn't retain his anger forever,
because he delights in loving kindness.

19 He will again have compassion on us.
He will tread our iniquities under foot;
and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give truth to Jacob,
and mercy to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 11, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-11-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 11, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031123.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----

3.10.2023

 Today's Bible story *

March 10, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

-----

Gospel : Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

33 "Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.

34 When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.

35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.

37 But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

38 But the farmers, when they saw the son, said amongst themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'

39 So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"

41 They told him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season."

42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,
'The stone which the builders rejected,
the same was made the head of the corner.
This was from the Lord.
It is marvellous in our eyes?'

43 "Therefore I tell you, God's Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. 46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.

-----

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours.

4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him.

12 His brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13a Israel said to Joseph,

17b "They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'"
Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.

18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.

19 They said to one another, "Behold, this dreamer comes.

20 Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams."

21 Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, "Let's not take his life."

22 Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him"--that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him;

24 and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.

25 They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh." His brothers listened to him.

28a Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ March 10, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-10-2023

◇ Daily Readings March 10, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031023.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

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