#Psalm 123:1

[tom4jc]

June 28, 2024 Verse Of The Day

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Righteous King

1 For, behold, a righteous king shall reign, and princes shall govern with judgement.

2 And a man shall hide his words, and be hidden, as from rushing water, and shall appear in Sion as a rushing river, glorious in a thirsty land.

3 And they shall no more trust in men, but they shall incline their ears to hear.

4 And the heart of the weak ones shall attend to hear, and the stammering tongues shall soon learn to speak peace.

5 And they shall no more at all tell a fool to rule, and thy servants shall no more at all say, Be silent.

6 For the fool shall speak foolish words, and his heart shall meditate vanities, and to perform lawless deeds and to speak error against the Lord, to scatter hungry souls, and he will cause the thirsty souls to be empty.

7 For the counsel of the wicked will devise iniquity, to destroy the poor with unjust words, and ruin the cause of the poor in judgement.

8 But the godly have devised wise measures, and this counsel shall stand.

The Women of Jerusalem

9 Rise up, ye rich women, and hear my voice; ye confident daughters, hearken to my words.

10 Remember for a full year in pain, yet with hope: the vintage has been cut off; it has ceased, it shall by no means come again.

11 Be amazed, be pained, ye confident ones: strip you, bare yourselves, gird your loins;

12 and beat your breasts, because of the pleasant field, and the fruit of the vine.

13 As for the land of my people, the thorn and grass shall come upon it, and joy shall be removed from every house.

14 As for the rich city, the houses are deserted; they shall abandon the wealth of the city, and the pleasant houses: and the villages shall be caves for ever, the joy of wild asses, shepherds' pastures;

15 until the Spirit shall come upon you from on high, and Chermel shall be desert, and Chermel shall be counted for a forest.

16 Then judgement shall abide in the wilderness, and righteousness shall dwell in Carmel.

17 And the works of righteousness shall be peace; and righteousness shall ensure rest, and the righteous shall be confident for ever.

18 And his people shall inhabit a city of peace, and dwell in it in confidence, and they shall rest with wealth.

19 And if the hail should come down, it shall not come upon you; and they that dwell in the forests shall be in confidence, as those in the plain country.

20 Blessed are they that sow by every water, where the ox and ass tread. — Isaiah 32 | Brenton Septuagint Translation (BST) The English translation of The Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1851) Cross References: 1 Samuel 25:25; 2 Samuel 14:14; Psalm 12:8; Psalm 72:1-2; Psalm 91:1; Psalm 104:11; Psalm 107:35; Psalm 119:95; Psalm 123:4; Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 11:25; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 3:16; Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 5:5-6; Isaiah 5:10; Isaiah 5:23; Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 7:23; Isaiah 10:18-19; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 22:2; Isaiah 23:7; Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 28:6; Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 29:24; Isaiah 30:23-24; Isaiah 33:5; Isaiah 33:14; Isaiah 35:4-5; Nahum 2:7; Matthew 12:34; Romans 14:17; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18

[lady-merian]

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You guys wanna hear one of my 3 am thoughts that actually still made sense the next day?

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Fun fact: you can pray the Psalms

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On Tumblr but not of Tumblr

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[pugzman3]

Psalms chapter 123

1 (A Song of degrees.) Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

[dmckinney79]

“I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.” - Psalm 123:1

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

7th July >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Ezekiel 2:2-5 These rebels shall know that there is a prophet among them.

The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122(123)

R/ Our eyes are on the Lord till he show us his mercy.

To you have I lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in the heavens; my eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords.

R/ Our eyes are on the Lord till he show us his mercy.

Like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the Lord our God till he show us his mercy.

R/ Our eyes are on the Lord till he show us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. We are filled with contempt. Indeed all too full is our soul with the scorn of the rich, with the proud man’s disdain.

R/ Our eyes are on the Lord till he show us his mercy.

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The Lord's power is at its best in weakness.

In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation John 1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia! The Word was made flesh and lived among us: to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia!

Or: Luke 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives.

Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 6:1-6 'A prophet is only despised in his own country'.

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Sun July 07th, 2024 ... The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

----------

Ez 2:2-5

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me

and set me on my feet,

and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:

Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,

rebels who have rebelled against me;

they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.

Hard of face and obstinate of heart

are they to whom I am sending you.

But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD!

And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—

they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

To you I lift up my eyes

who are enthroned in heaven —

As the eyes of servants

are on the hands of their masters.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

As the eyes of a maid

are on the hands of her mistress,

So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,

till he have pity on us.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,

for we are more than sated with contempt;

our souls are more than sated

with the mockery of the arrogant,

with the contempt of the proud.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Reading 2

----------

2 Cor 12:7-10

Brothers and sisters:

That I, Paul, might not become too elated,

because of the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,

to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,

but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is made perfect in weakness.”

I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,

in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,

hardships, persecutions, and constraints,

for the sake of Christ;

for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Alleluia

--------

Cf. Lk 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

--------

Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,

and many who heard him were astonished.

They said, “Where did this man get all this?

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.

Jesus’ rejection in today’s Gospel Reading was not a one-time occurrence.  Saint John the Evangelist states this same unfortunate truth, but in a different way.  About Jesus, St. John writes:  “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not.  He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not” [ John 1:10-11].

Throughout the three years of Jesus’ public ministry, He was frequently rejected as a prophet.  Each of those rejections foreshadows the ultimate rejection of Jesus on Mount Calvary:  the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, the one who came to save us from our sins.

After Jesus is rejected “in His native place and among His own kin”, the evangelist concludes with these observations:  “He was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying His hands on them.  He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

There are some people who use these last two sentences to deny that Jesus is God.  They argue that if Jesus were truly God, He would have been able to perform miracles in today’s Gospel passage.  Or to put it another way:  if the crowd’s lack of faith is greater than Jesus’ power to work miracles, then Jesus cannot possibly be the omnipotent God of the Bible.

 

We need to reflect upon this tension between the crowd’s lack of faith and Jesus’ lack of miracles.  We need to reflect upon this tension not just for the sake of understanding this particular Scripture passage, but also for the sake of our own spiritual lives.  Many Christians struggle because in the course of their earthly lives, they don’t see God responding to their most dire needs.  Some of these Christians give up their search for an answer.  Either they give up on God and leave the Church, or they give up on themselves, leading to despair or even death.

We know by instinct that the crowd’s lack of faith is not greater than Jesus’ power to work miracles.  But God chooses not to work miracles where there is a lack of faith.  We might say that God the Father made a “gentleman’s agreement” with Himself when He decided to send His Son to earth to become human.  He made a rule that He committed Himself always to abide by:  that is, never to over-ride human free will.

In the face of what can seem like God’s silence or lack of care about the many shades of darkness within life on earth, there are three plain facts that each of us needs to accept.

First, each of us needs to trust more deeply in God’s Providential will.  To say that God’s divine will is providential means that while God never directly causes evil, He does permit it.  He allows the world we live in to be as dark as it is because that darkness is the price to be paid for human free will.  It might be simpler if God were to remove that freedom and make all things right in the world.  But without that freedom, no one would have the chance to become like God and enter Heaven.

Second, each of us needs to grow in faith in God’s love for oneself personally.  Each of us needs to have the faith that the crowds in today’s Gospel passage lacked.  Each of us needs to believe that God sends His love to us in humble forms, especially in humble opportunities to love Him.  Nevertheless, as much as He chooses to love you, He also chooses not to force you to love Him.

Third, God demands that your faith be purified.  This is not the same as growing in faith.  Growing in faith is what you do by choosing to believe.  But this third plain fact is what God does.  God wants actively to purify your faith:  to sift it so as to remove the chaff.  Part of this sifting is helping us separate our wants from our needs.  Another part removes consolations in prayer so that our faith grows deeper.  This sifting calls us to adore God more than we petition Him, and to love Him for Who He truly is, instead of who we want Him to be.

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[freebiblestudies]

Line Upon Line Lesson 016: Three Sinners and One Redeemer

Genesis 16:9 - The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”

Why would Jesus tell a runaway slave to return to her master who had been mistreating her?  In order to understand this verse, we need to study the entire passage.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:16; and Psalm 19:13.

Sarah and Abraham were unable to conceive and have a child.  Abraham began to consider Eliezer, a trusted servant born in his household, to be his heir.  However, Sarah remembered God’s promise to Abraham

In ancient times, it was legal for a woman to give her female slave to her husband to conceive a child.  That child would legally be the child of the woman.  The slave would be considered a wife of the man, but she would not have the same rights as the original wife.

Sarah was trying to fulfill God’s promise on human terms.  Remember, God promised Abraham would be the father of a great nation.  God did not ask Abraham to do anything to achieve this promise.  All Abraham had to do was believe God would fulfill this promise.

In a sense, Sarah was trying to play God in this situation.  Despite her good intentions, Sarah was actually usurping God’s authority.  While human work and effort may be required in certain things, we have to have faith in God’s promises to let Him do what He said He would do.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:4-6; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 19:4-6; and 1 Timothy 3:2-4.

While Sarah’s scheme succeeded, friction developed in Abraham’s household.  Hagar began to look down upon Sarah since she conceived an heir for Abraham and Sarah had not.  Sarah blamed Abraham for this and he allowed her to mistreat Hagar.

Abraham failed at least three times in this passage.  First of all, Abraham should not have heeded Sarah’s suggestion.  It may have been culturally acceptable, but it went against the word of God.  Furthermore, Sarah’s suggestion introduced the sin of polygamy into Abraham’s household. 

Let’s read together Psalm 123:2; Ephesians 6:9; and Colossians 4:1.

Secondly, Abraham did not say anything to Hagar when she continued to look down on Sarah.  Lastly, Abraham then allowed Sarah to mistreat Hagar so harshly that she ran away.  Abraham should have restrained Sarah’s hand.  Even though she was a slave, Hagar should have been treated with more dignity and respect than she was given.  Abraham chose to appease his wife rather than stand up for what was right.

Let’s read together Genesis 12:16 and  Proverbs 16:18.

Let us be clear.  Hagar was a victim in this story.  As a slave (likely given to Abraham and Sarah as a gift from Pharaoh), Hagar was in a vulnerable position.  She did not have much say in the matter when Sarah decided to give her to Abaham as a wife.  

However, Hagar was also a sinner.  She allowed the sin of pride to fester in her heart.  She looked upon Sarah who couldn’t conceive, while she birthed an heir to Abraham.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:9: Deuteronomy 32:39; and Colossians 1:15-20.

So, why did Jesus tell Hagar to go back to Sarah knowing this whole situation?  First of all, Hagar was a runaway slave.  The penalties for catching fugitive slaves were rather harsh in those days, including death.  Also, Hagar had no idea where she was going.  She could have found herself in another dangerous situation (raiders, wild animals, etc.).  Going back to Sarah may have been the safest option for Hagar.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:10-16;  Numbers 11:23; and James 5:11.

Finally, Jesus is a Redeemer.  This situation was not of God’s devising - it was caused by sinful human beings.  Nevertheless, God heard the cries of a lowly slave girl and answered her.  Jesus was going to redeem this situation.

Friend, no matter how messed up things are in your life, will you believe that Jesus can redeem the situation and you?

[quranliveblog]

al baqarah ayat 101-200

themes:

those who "sold their souls" did not know (102-103).

the quran and its rules were revealed in stages (106, fn).

muhammad echoes moses (108, fn), and his listeners echo moses' listeners (118).

"Pardon and bear with" disbelievers (109).

he causes to become (117).

the quran is also a warning (119).

allah is all-hearing, all-knowing, almighty, and all-wise (127, 129).

"faith of Abraham" contrasted with that of "The Jews and Christians" (135).

hierarchy (143). similar to heads in the bible.

fear of god (150).

satan is humanity's "sworn enemy" (168).

"Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets . . ." (177).

fasting during ramadan (183-185).

"Allah intends ease for you, not hardship" (185). in that vein, intercourse during the night of ramadan was made permissible (187, fn2).

"being devoted to Allah wholeheartedly is more important than blindly following old traditions" (189, fn).

"Fight in the cause of Allah ˹only˺ against those who wage war against you, but do not exceed the limits. . . . Do not wish to meet your enemy in battle but always pray for well-being. If fighting is a must, then be steadfast" (190, fn).

questions:

allah sent harut and marut (102)? what mischief did the people cause (fn)? what was this magic anyway?

when is the truth made clear to disbelievers (109)?

how are the two sentiments in ayah 116 related?

is the command to pray toward the kaaba also a test (143-144)? are all commands a test? ayah 155 says you'll be tested "with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops." per ayat 156-157, your response should still be, "'Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return,'" and then you "will receive Allah's blessings and mercy." like job.

what does "recogniz[ing] this ˹Prophet˺ as they recognize their own children" mean (146)?

what are the symbols of allah (158)?

who are "˹all˺ those who condemn" (159)?

to whom does "all of humanity" in ayah 161 refer?

". . . But if they cease, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (192).

who asks allah to grant them "'˹[His] bounties˺ in this world,' but . . . will have no share in the Hereafter" (200)?

notes:

"Never did Solomon disbelieve" (102); diverges from biblical account.

footnote to ayah 104 is funny. the disbelievers' reasoning is interesting. it's all so childish though.

similar thing to the bible where reasons are given why people might scorn belief in the quran, e.g. that they recognize it but still reject it, that they're envious. it seems disbelievers know that the quran actually is true.

"The Jews and Christians each claim that none will enter Paradise except those of their own faith. These are their desires" (111). is that not the same thing the quran is saying? it's just that the jews and christians are wrong? same deal w ayah 120.

hellfire mention (119).

some repetition, like ayat 122-123.

kaaba first mentioned in ayah 125.

abraham and ishmael were muslims (128, fn).

religions "compete with one another in doing good" (148).

"remember Me; I will remember you" (152).

"Never say that those martyred in the cause of Allah are dead—in fact, they are alive! But you do not perceive it" (154).

ayah 159 mentions "clear proofs."

ayah 163 is psalm 83:18.

the wonders of creation reveal allah's glory (164).

focus on punishment (165).

the misled get the same punishment as those who mislead (167).

satan is another reason why people might scorn belief in the quran (169-170).

you can eat forbidden foods without being sinful if you're "compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need" (173).

those who differ regarding the quran are "totally engrossed in opposition" (176).

footnote 1 to ayah 178 about retaliation. is life for a life based though (see 194).

parents and close relatives are prioritized (180).

allowances made for those who can't observe ramadan (184); similar to the allowance made for those who must eat forbidden foods. also, allowances regarding the pilgrimage (196).

"Allah knows that you were deceiving yourselves" (187).

ayah 191 is "probably the most misquoted verse from the Quran" (fn). wish the context 191 is taken out of was given.

[themotlicrew]

MotL —

    [1] To you I lift up my eyes,

        O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Psalm 123:1

(ESV)

[tom4jc]

Psalm 123:1 Who Do You Look Up To?

Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Psalm 123:1 People are always looking up to other people. The ones looked up to are often actors, singers, authors, bosses, sports figure, some other person in some type of leadership position or some person who has had a major influence in one’s life. Very often the people looked up to are one’s that cannot be touched because of the…

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Daily Light on the Daily Path by Samuel Bagster

Daily Reading for November 1st

Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.

Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us.

Exodus 29:42 "It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.

Exodus 20:24 'You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

John 4:23,24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. • "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing;

[humbleservantprayerwall]

Daily Devotionals 10-07-2024

(Reading Your Bible Daily Is Fundamental) Verses of the Day: 1 Corinthians 6:14/Hosea 6:6/Psalm 63:1/Psalms 4:8/John 4:42/Isaiah 36:5/Numbers 11:11/Luke 5:1-11/Psalm 51:10-12/2 Kings 1:8/Luke 7:25/Numbers 11:11/Lamentations 3:22-23/Numbers 18:20/Psalm 73:26/Luke 1:78-79/Exodus 34:6/2 Corinthians 9:7/Psalm 123:1-2/Psalm 25:9/Matthew 5:5/Ecclesiastes 9:11/Proverbs 16:9/Psalm 143:8/James 1:5/John…

[revdavidbsmith]

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

[steveezekiel]

WHO DO YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN? 2

5 THIS is what the LORD says: “CURSED ARE THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN MERE HUMANS, WHO RELY ON HUMAN STRENGTH AND TURN THEIR HEARTS AWAY FROM THE LORD .

6 THEY ARE LIKE STUNTED SHRUBS IN THE DESERT, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.

7 “BUT BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD AND HAVE MADE THE LORD THEIR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE.

8 THEY ARE LIKE TREES PLANTED ALONG A RIVERBANK, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. THEIR LEAVES STAY GREEN, AND THEY NEVER STOP PRODUCING FRUIT."

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)

* Albeit, when you make God your hope and confidence, you would not be disappointed:

7 “BUT BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD AND HAVE MADE THE LORD THEIR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE. 8 THEY ARE LIKE TREES PLANTED ALONG A RIVERBANK, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. THEIR LEAVES STAY GREEN, AND THEY NEVER STOP PRODUCING FRUIT" (Jeremiah 17:7,8 NLT).

- Allow God to dictate All you wanted to do, when you do, you will flourish like the tree planted at the riverbank (Jeremiah 17:8).

- When challenges come, and you are in a dilemma, who do you look on to for help and direction?:

1 I LOOK UP TO THE MOUNTAINS—DOES MY HELP COME FROM THERE? 2 MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH!" (Psalm 121:1,2 NLT).

READ: Psalm 25:1; 123:1

- If you lifted your eyes to the hills, known that your help could only come from God Who made heaven and the earth—you would be considered to be right.

- If anyone is helping you, as a Believer in Christ Jesus, thank the person for the good gestures, however, the glory and honour should go to God who stirred the person to do it. The person is just an instrument in the hand of God!

- You should always remember that the person who is helping you could not have done whatever he or she is doing If God had not helped them in their works: "JOHN REPLIED, “NO ONE CAN RECEIVE ANYTHING UNLESS GOD GIVES IT FROM HEAVEN" (John 3:27 NLT).

- In other words, the person could not have whatever he or she has without God. God puts the money or whatever in his or her hand for a purpose (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

- God can take whatever He puts in anyone's hand If the person did not understand the purpose of it and use it as God intended—for God's Will or purpose.

- You should also know that God can bless you, meet your needs, through any person. It does not necessarily had to be your relatives; your siblings or family members.

* When you trusted Man, humans, as a believer in Christ Jesus; you limit God in the matters of your life. This would make you attract negative things, or a curse, on your life (Jeremiah 17:5).

- However, when you trust in God, put your hope and confidence in Him, you attract His blessings (Jeremiah 17:7).

- The truth is, no one can help you except God had influenced the person to do it. Thus, God is enough, let Him choose whoever He wanted to use in the meeting or do whatever is required by the terms of the need in your life.

AND you should cooperate with Him whichever way He might want to do it.

* You will not fail in Jesus' name.

- Should there be any ailment in your body, As you read this piece, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

- Hold of sickness is completely broken in your life today, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

* Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

5th June >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr 

on

Wednesday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time.

Wednesday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the feria (Wednesday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Wednesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 2 Timothy 1:1-3,6-12 God's gift is the Spirit of power, love and self-control.

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers. That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News; and I have been named its herald, its apostle and its teacher. It is only on account of this that I am experiencing fresh hardships here now; but I have not lost confidence, because I know who it is that I have put my trust in, and I have no doubt at all that he is able to take care of all that I have entrusted to him until that Day.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122(123):1-2

R/ To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

To you have I lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in the heavens; my eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords.

R/ To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

Like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the Lord our God till he show us his mercy.

R/ To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

Gospel Acclamation John 17:17

Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is truth, O Lord: consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia!

Or: John 11:25, 26

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die. Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 12:18-27 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob is the God of the living.

Some Sadducees – who deny that there is a resurrection – came to him and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a wife and then died leaving no children. The second married the widow, and he too died leaving no children; with the third it was the same, and none of the seven left any children. Last of all the woman herself died. Now at the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be, since she had been married to all seven?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Is not the reason why you go wrong, that you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry; no, they are like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising again, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him and said: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are very much mistaken.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

------------------------------

Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr 

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Wednesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 26:19-23 I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike.

Paul said: ‘King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision. On the contrary I started preaching, first to the people of Damascus, then to those of Jerusalem and all the countryside of Judaea, and also to the pagans, urging them to repent and turn to God, proving their change of heart by their deeds. This was why the Jews laid hands on me in the Temple and tried to do away with me. But I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike, saying nothing more than what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen: that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim that light now shone for our people and for the pagans too.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116(117):1-2

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation John 10:14

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord, I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!

Gospel John 10:11-16 The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.