The Word for today: A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. Titus 1:2 NIV
No one can be a Catholic without a simple faith that what the Church declares in God’s name is God’s word, and therefore true. A man must simply believe that the Church is the oracle of God; he must be as certain of her mission as he is the mission of the apostles. — Venerable John Henry Newman
To finish the Bible in one year, Read Psalms 128-136 and John 6 : 25-59
Verses for today – Listen here:
Reflection for Today.
Also read the verses, if you like.
Psalm 128
1 [Song of Ascents] How blessed are all who fear Yahweh, who walk in his ways!
2 Your own labours will yield you a living, happy and prosperous will you be.
3 Your wife a fruitful vine in the inner places of your house. Your children round your table like shoots of an olive tree.
4 Such are the blessings that fall on those who fear Yahweh.
5 May Yahweh bless you from Zion! May you see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life,
6 and live to see your children’s children! Peace to Israel!
psalm 129
1 [Song of Ascents] Often as men have attacked me since I was young — let Israel repeat it-
2 often as men have attacked me since I was young, they have never overcome me.
3 On my back ploughmen have set to work, making long furrows,
4 but Yahweh the upright has shattered the yoke of the wicked.
5 Let all who hate Zion be thrown back in confusion,
6 let them be like grass on a roof, dried up before it is cut,
7 never to fill the reaper’s arm nor the binder’s lap.
8 And no passer-by will say, ‘The blessing of Yahweh be on you! ‘We bless you in the name of Yahweh.’
Psalm 130
1 [Song of Ascents] From the depths I call to you, Yahweh:
2 Lord, hear my cry. Listen attentively to the sound of my pleading!
3 If you kept a record of our sins, Lord, who could stand their ground?
4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
5 I rely, my whole being relies, Yahweh, on your promise.
6 My whole being hopes in the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak; more than watchmen for daybreak
7 let Israel hope in Yahweh. For with Yahweh is faithful love, with him generous ransom;
8 and he will ransom Israel from all its sins.
Psalm 131
1 [Song of Ascents] Yahweh, my heart is not haughty, I do not set my sights too high. I have taken no part in great affairs, in wonders beyond my scope.
2 No, I hold myself in quiet and silence, like a little child in its mother’s arms, like a little child, so I keep myself.
3 Let Israel hope in Yahweh henceforth and for ever.
Psalm 132
1 [Song of Ascents] Yahweh, remember David and all the hardships he endured,
2 the oath he swore to Yahweh, his vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 ‘I will not enter tent or house, will not climb into bed,
4 will not allow myself to sleep, not even to close my eyes,
5 till I have found a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob!’
6 Listen, we heard of it in Ephrathah, we found it at Forest-Fields.
7 Let us go into his dwelling-place, and worship at his footstool.
8 Go up, Yahweh, to your resting-place, you and the ark of your strength.
9 Your priests are robed in saving justice, your faithful are shouting for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed.
11 Yahweh has sworn to David, and will always remain true to his word, ‘I promise that I will set a son of yours upon your throne.
12 If your sons observe my covenant and the instructions I have taught them, their sons too for evermore will occupy your throne.’
13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion, he has desired it as a home.
14 ‘Here shall I rest for evermore, here shall I make my home as I have wished.
15 ‘I shall generously bless her produce, give her needy their fill of food,
16 I shall clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful will sing aloud for joy.
17 ‘There I shall raise up a line of descendants for David, light a lamp for my anointed;
18 I shall clothe his enemies with shame, while his own crown shall flourish.’
Psalm 133
1 [Song of Ascents] How good, how delightful it is to live as brothers all together!
2 It is like a fine oil on the head, running down the beard, running down Aaron’s beard, onto the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the heights of Zion; for there Yahweh bestows his blessing, everlasting life.
Psalm 134
1 [Song of Ascents] Come, bless Yahweh, all you who serve Yahweh, serving in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of the house of our God. Through the night watches
2 stretch out your hands towards the sanctuary and bless Yahweh.
3 May Yahweh bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!
Psalm 135
1 Alleluia! Praise the name of Yahweh, you who serve Yahweh, praise him,
2 serving in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise Yahweh, for Yahweh is good, make music for his name — it brings joy-
4 for Yahweh has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that Yahweh is great, our Lord is above all gods.
6 Yahweh does whatever he pleases in heaven, on earth, in the waters and all the depths.
7 He summons up clouds from the borders of earth, sends rain with lightning-flashes, and brings the wind out of his storehouse.
8 He struck the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike,
9 he sent signs and wonders into the heart of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his officials.
10 He struck down many nations, he slaughtered mighty kings,
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12 He gave their land as a birthright, a birthright to his people Israel.
13 Yahweh, your name endures for ever, Yahweh, your memory is fresh from age to age.
14 For Yahweh vindicates his people, feels compassion for his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.
16 These have mouths but say nothing, have eyes but see nothing,
17 have ears but hear nothing, and they have no breath in their mouths.
18 Their makers will end up like them, everyone who relies on them.
19 House of Israel, bless Yahweh, House of Aaron, bless Yahweh,
20 House of Levi, bless Yahweh, you who fear Yahweh, bless Yahweh.
21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Psalm 136
1 Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his faithful love endures for ever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his faithful love endures for ever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his faithful love endures for ever.
4 He alone works wonders, for his faithful love endures for ever.
5 In wisdom he made the heavens, for his faithful love endures for ever.
6 He set the earth firm on the waters, for his faithful love endures for ever.
7 He made the great lights, for his faithful love endures for ever.
8 The sun to rule the day, for his faithful love endures for ever.
9 Moon and stars to rule the night, for his faithful love endures for ever.
10 He struck down the first-born of Egypt, for his faithful love endures for ever.
11 He brought Israel out from among them, for his faithful love endures for ever.
12 With mighty hand and outstretched arm, for his faithful love endures for ever.
13 He split the Sea of Reeds in two, for his faithful love endures for ever.
14 Let Israel pass through the middle, for his faithful love endures for ever.
15 And drowned Pharaoh and all his army, for his faithful love endures for ever.
16 He led his people through the desert, for his faithful love endures for ever.
17 He struck down mighty kings, for his faithful love endures for ever.
18 Slaughtered famous kings, for his faithful love endures for ever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites, for his faithful love endures for ever.
20 And Og king of Bashan, for his faithful love endures for ever.
21 He gave their land as a birthright, for his faithful love endures for ever.
22 A birthright to his servant Israel, for his faithful love endures for ever.
23 He kept us in mind when we were humbled, for his faithful love endures for ever.
24 And rescued us from our enemies, for his faithful love endures for ever.
25 He provides food for all living creatures, for his faithful love endures for ever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his faithful love endures for ever.
John 6 : 25-59
25 When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’
26 Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, you are looking for me not because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
27 Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.
28 Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to carry out God’s work?’
29 Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is carrying out God’s work: you must believe in the one he has sent.’
30 So they said, ‘What sign will you yourself do, the sight of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do?
31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’
32 Jesus answered them: In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread;
33 for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
34 ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘give us that bread always.’
35 Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.
36 But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe.
37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not reject anyone who comes to me,
38 because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me.
39 Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise it up on the last day.
40 It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day.
41 Meanwhile the Jews were complaining to each other about him, because he had said, ‘I am the bread that has come down from heaven.’
42 They were saying, ‘Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know. How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven?” ‘
43 Jesus said in reply to them, ‘Stop complaining to each other.
44 ‘No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets: They will all be taught by God; everyone who has listened to the Father, and learnt from him, comes to me.
46 Not that anybody has seen the Father, except him who has his being from God: he has seen the Father.
47 In all truth I tell you, everyone who believes has eternal life.
49 Your fathers ate manna in the desert and they are dead;
50 but this is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die.
51 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’
52 Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’
53 Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person.
57 As the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me.
58 This is the bread which has come down from heaven; it is not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
59 This is what he taught at Capernaum in the synagogue.
Sermons by various teachers regarding the verses above.
Catholic Daily Readings and Reflections
Reading 1, Sirach 44:1, 10-15
1 Next let us praise illustrious men, our ancestors in their successive generations.
10 But here is a list of illustrious men whose good works have not been forgotten.
11 In their descendants they find a rich inheritance, their posterity.
12 Their descendants stand by the commandments and, thanks to them, so do their children’s children.
13 Their offspring will last for ever, their glory will not fade.
14 Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for all generations.
15 The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly will celebrate their praises.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 132:11, 13-14, 17-18
11 Yahweh has sworn to David, and will always remain true to his word, ‘I promise that I will set a son of yours upon your throne.
13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion, he has desired it as a home.
14 ‘Here shall I rest for evermore, here shall I make my home as I have wished.
17 ‘There I shall raise up a line of descendants for David, light a lamp for my anointed;
18 I shall clothe his enemies with shame, while his own crown shall flourish.’
Gospel, Matthew 13:16-17
16 ‘But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear!
17 In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.
Audio Drama: Old Testament New Testament Each book is read in its entirety. You can listen to the bible, one book at a time in contemporary English.
Dr. Myles Munroe
I am including a video by Dr. Myles Munroe, I’ve listened to him back in the nineties, and rediscovered him recently. Now his perspective seems to be a good way to also look at scripture. In Pursuit of Purpose – Book Highlights
Sermons Rosary Prayers Catholic Answers
Did Mary have other children? No, Listen here
Called to Communion
Pray the Rosary
Rosary Mysteries
The following 4 videos are the 4 Mysteries that we pray on certain days of the week. I like these videos, because I can pray it alone, with only the images, or go along with the sound. The images help me to focus on the particular mystery that I am contemplating as I say the Hail Mary on each bead.
Joyful Mysteries
Luminous Mysteries
Sorrowful Mysteries
Glorious Mysteries
Prayers of the Rosary
Links to “How to pray the rosary” Popular Catholic Prayers
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,
He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(this prayer is optional and may be said after all Glory Be to the Fathers…..)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.
Console the souls in Purgatory, particularly those most abandoned. Amen
Hail Mary,
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Hail, Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
That we maybe made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Closing Prayer
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation.
Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(The Fatima Prayer:)
Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – I adore thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference’s whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.
Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Thurzo Gizella Bible Study 
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