Palm Sunday of our Lord’s Passion

CYCLE B

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:
Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)

Application – 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first reading tells us that God has imprinted his law on our hearts. The second reading reveals that suffering can lead to obedience, and obedience leads to holiness. The Gospel shows us that following in Jesus’ footsteps is anything but glamorous and safe.

This week make a deliberate effort to give God the glory of your efforts rather than seeking attention and praise for yourself. This will help others to give glory to God for their efforts instead of seeking attention and praise for themselves.

FIRST DAY

1.   What was a helpful or a new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

2.   From what you learned, what Personal?  application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

SECOND DAY READ ISAIAH 50:4-7 FIRST READING
(“The Lord is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.”)

1. From where did the well-trained tongue come? To whom has he given it, and for what reason has he been given a well- trained tongue? Isaiah 50:4

2. When and what does he open, that we may hear? Isaiah 50:4

3. What has he not done? Isaiah 50:5

4. What happens to those who rebel? 1 Samuel 12:15

5. What did the servant do to those who beat him and plucked his beard? Isaiah 50:6

6. From what did he not shield his face? Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67 and 27:30

7. Who is the servant’s help, and how has he set his face? Isaiah 50:7

8. What does the servant know? Isaiah 50:7

Personal? – When do you hear the Lord speaking to you? What is he saying to you? In what way, by using a well-trained tongue, do you rouse the weary in your own household? Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you how you can train your tongue.

THIRD DAY READ PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11 SECOND READING
(“Jesus Christ is Lord.”)

1. What must your attitude be? Philippians 2:5

2. Of whom was he in the form? Philippians 2:6

3. Who is Christ? John 1:1, 14

4. What was something at which he did not grasp? Philippians 2:6

5. Rather, of what did he become empty and why? Philippians 2:7 2 Corinthians 8:9

6. Of what did he take the form, and in whose likeness was he born, and of what was he known to be? Philippians 2:7

7. What two things did he do in verse 8 of Philippians 2?

8. For what reason did he do the above two things? Hebrews 2:14,17

9. Because he humbled himself and accepted death on the cross, what two things did God do for him? Philippians 2:9

10. What must every knee do, in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, at the name of Jesus, and what must every tongue proclaim? Philippians 2:10-11

11. What does this tell us beyond a doubt? Acts 2:36

12. For whose glory is this proclaimed (Philippians 2:11), and what will happen to us if we confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead? Romans 10:9

13. Who gives us the power to say “Jesus is Lord”? 1 Corinthians 12:3

Personal? – In what way is your attitude that of Christ? In what way have you humbled yourself? What cross have you obediently accepted? Read Mark 8:34 and meditate on this.

FOURTH DAY READ MARK 14:1-15:47 GOSPEL
(“Truly this man was the Son of God!”)

1. What feast was to be observed in two days’ time? Who began to look for a way to arrest Jesus, and what was pointed out to them? Mark 14:1-2

2. What did the woman carrying an alabaster jar of expensive perfume do to Jesus? What was the reaction of those present and what did Jesus say about what she did and about her? Mark 14:3-9

3. What did Judas Iscariot do? What was the reaction of the chief priest, what did they offer him, and for what was Judas looking? Mark 14:10-11

4. What did the disciples ask Jesus about the Passover supper? What were his instructions to them, and when they went off and found things just as he told them, what did they do? Mark 14:12-16

Personal? – What do you ask Jesus in prayer regarding preparations for major events such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.?

5. As Jesus and the twelve disciples reclined at the table, what did he say to them, what was their reaction, and what did he say about the man who was to betray him? Mark 14:17-21

6. During the meal, what did Jesus say and do with the bread and wine? What did he say he would never do again, and after they sang songs of praise, where did they go? Mark 14:22-26

7. What did Jesus tell the disciples would happen to their faith? What did he quote from scripture, where did he tell them he would go after he was raised up? Mark 14:27-28

8. What did Peter say to Jesus, what did Jesus say to him, and what did the others say? Mark 14:29-31

9. With what was Jesus filled in the garden of Gethsemani? What did he tell his disciples to do, what did Jesus say to “Abba” (God the Father)? What kept happening to the disciples, and what did he finally say was about to happen? Mark 14:32-42

10. How had Jesus’ betrayer arranged his arrest? What was the reaction of the disciples after he was arrested, what did Jesus say the arrest at that time fulfilled, and how did one young man that was following Jesus run off? Mark 14:43-52

Personal? – When you become afraid and fear seizes you, how do you respond? Look back at verses 34-39 and see how Jesus dealt with fear and distress.

11. When they led Jesus off to the high priest, where was Peter? What were the chief priest and whole Sanhedrin trying to do? As the high priest interrogated him, what did Jesus say, and what did the high priest do and say? Mark 14:53-63

12. What did they all concur in the verdict against Jesus? What did they do to Jesus? And while Peter was down in the courtyard, what happened to him? Mark 14:64-72

13. What did Pilate do to Jesus, and what was Jesus’ response, who was Barabbas, and what did the chief priest incite the crowd to do? Mark 15:1-15

Personal – In what way do you see that jealousy and envy cause unjust results? In what way have you witnessed someone unjustly condemned through gossip and lying? Ask the Lord to show you how to respond to this.

14. What did the soldiers do to Jesus? Mark 15:16-20

15. Who did they press into service to carry his cross, and where did they bring Jesus? What did they do to him, and what did the people passing by and the chief priest say and do? Mark 15:21-32

16. What happened at noon and at three o’clock that afternoon?

What happened to the veil of the sanctuary, and what did the centurion who saw Jesus breathe his last breath say? Mark 15:33-39

17. Who were the women looking on from a distance? At evening, what did Joseph of Arimathea courageously do? What was Pilate’s response to Joseph? What did Joseph do with the body of Jesus and who watched where he laid him? Mark 15:40-47

Personal? – Can you identify with the jeering crowd and the centurion at the cross and how do you relate to them? What has happened in your life that has revealed that Jesus truly is the Son of God?

FIFTH DAY READ PSALM 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
(“They have pierced my hands and my feet.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24.

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

How can you apply this to your life?

SIXTH DAY READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

ISAIAH 50:4-7

The source of strength and courage for all suffering, trial and tribulations is the suffering and death of our divine Lord Jesus Christ. We need to hold fast to him when the world closes in with its assault, rejection and abandonment. He not only traveled this same road before the saints of old, but he travels it today constantly waiting to be with us in our suffering. His suffering and death opened the road to heaven for all of us, even though many refuse the gift. He gave up everything for us, and he gave us love, trust, hope, respect, and eternal life. In return, he got spat upon, ridiculed, beaten, jeered, scourged and mocked. He finally was executed by being nailed to a cross on Calvary between two lawbreakers.

This is a day of reflection, and we are about to enter Holy Week. Let us not forget the actions and the words of this suffering servant of Isaiah. We need to reflect how fast the crowd changed from adoring him to jeering him. He took up a cross for us, and we need to remember we, too, are called to carry a cross for someone. Sometimes we think our cross is too heavy, or that it is unfair to bear such a heavy cross. How heavy is your cross compared to Christ’s? How is your Calvary compared to Jesus’ Calvary?

PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11

Paul tells us that our attitude should be like that of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5). He describes putting on the attitude of a servant rather than that of a king. Jesus, though being God, did not demand his rights and privileges of royalty. He deliberately set them all aside and took on the role of a servant. There lies the incredible formula of a successful leader. Jesus led by serving all of us. He showed us that putting others first and being humble are the only ways a person can become a real leader. The sheep followed the shepherd because they trusted him. People will follow a leader if they know that he has their welfare at heart.

Jesus showed us everything of God’s character in human terms. He was obedient even unto death, and the type of death he chose for him was extremely painful. Jesus is the perfect role model for us in today’s living. How many times do you demand your rights when you are being treated less than fairly? The name of Jesus brings to every Christian person the name of a person who willingly died so that all people could be free, and he died for us knowing very well that we were sinners (Romans 5:8). Jesus voluntarily laid aside his divine rights, privileges, and position out of love for his Father. We too are called to lay aside our rights and privileges for our oppressed brothers and sisters in the holy name of Jesus.

MARK 14:1-15:47

Today’s Gospel takes us through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church celebrates Palm Sunday at the beginning of Passover week. There are many contrasts in today’s reading. We see Jesus being betrayed by Judas, who was one of his original apostles.

The week begins with Jesus leaving a home in Bethany where he was guest of honor and going to Jerusalem. In two weeks he will have gone through hero-worship to rejection, jeering, incarceration, torture and finally execution on a cross. The people of Bethany were so impressed with Jesus that they lined the roads when he made his entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. The people shouted praise to him and his holy name. He was rebuked by Judas for letting a woman waste expensive perfume on him, but Jesus told Judas and some of the other apostles that she did no wrong. In fact, her worship of Jesus included sacrificing something of great value.

The disciples really did not understand Jesus’ role. They thought he was going to bring the Israelites a powerful new kingdom and overthrow Rome. Jesus showed in his praise of the woman that his kingdom was not physical or political, but spiritual. Judas then turned to the Pharisees and betrayed Christ for money and favors from some religious leaders. Jesus saw this and continued on to his appointed time to glorify his Father. Judas did not see Jesus with spiritual vision, he only saw the chance to be powerful. Today many of us look at Judas with shock and outrage. Yet we deny Christ when we do not obey his commands. We are the same people who sing songs of praise to him on Sundays, and we sin in darkness during the week. We need to ask ourselves a very violent question. Do our beliefs match our actions? Jesus’ death and resurrection freed us from being another Judas. Judas had the same chance but he chose to refuse. Let us not turn our backs on Christ, rather let us turn to him in repentance. Judas chose the world of greed, deceit, lying, and manipulation; and he died in despair and violence. We do not have to choose that path because Christ has freed us from sin by his death and resurrection. We can choose the path of love, honor, and respectability because Christ’s Holy Spirit lives within each and every one of us (1 John 4:4).

Application

The first reading tells us that the source of strength for all of our suffering, trials, and tribulation is the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second reading tells us that our attitude should be humble not proud. A humble attitude is the attitude of Christ. The Gospel reveals that when we fail to obey Jesus’ commandment we betray him.

This week, stop and observe what you are saying and doing. Make a determined effort to stop the deceit, lying, and manipulation that may be going on in your life. It only brought Judas loneliness and death. The choice is yours to make.

THE BREAD OF LIFE

CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

 

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT – CYCLE B

 

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

 

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.  “THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.”  (JOHN 14:26)

 

Application

 

The first reading shows us that God restores those who repent.  The second reading tells us that we do not have to live under sin’s power any longer. The Gospel promises eternal life if we believe in Christ.

 

This week show others how the light and love of Christ shines through you. By your actions show your kindness and gentle­ness to your family members, classmates or co-workers. Be specific and pick out a particular person each day and let the light and love of God light up your life by being patient and kind. Be generous and humble, not jealous or rude. Practice this for one week and you will light up your whole family, school and job.  Let your light shine, let your light shine.

 

 

FIRST DAY  Reread last week’s readings.

 

1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

 

2. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECOND DAY           READ JEREMIAH 31:31-34        FIRST READING

 

(“I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”)

 

 

1. What will the Lord make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah?   Jeremiah 31:31

 

 

2. For what reason, and who is the mediator of a new covenant? Hebrews 9:14-15

 

 

 

3. What will the covenant not be like, what did the Israelites do, and what did God do? Jeremiah 31:32

 

 

4. What did God command on the day he brought them out of

the land of Egypt?   Jeremiah 7:22-23

 

 

5. What did the Lord make with the house of Israel, and what will he place within them?   Jeremiah 31:33

 

 

6. Where will the Lord write his law, what will he be to them, and what will they be to him? Jeremiah 31:33

 

 

7. What will he remember no more? Hebrews 10:16-17

 

 

8. To whom and what will they no longer have need to teach? Jeremiah 31:34

 

 

9. Who shall know the Lord, what will he do, and what will he no longer remember?  Jeremiah 31:34

 

 

10. Who shall be taught by the Lord, and what shall be great within our children?   Isaiah 54:13

 

 

11. What remains in us, and for what reason? 1 John 2:27

 

 

Personal – How have you responded to the new covenant that God has made with you?   How has this affected your relationship with others?

 

 

THIRD DAY           READ HEBREWS 5:7-9       SECOND READING

 

(“Son though he was, he learned obedience

from what he suffered.”)

 

1. When Christ was in the flesh, what and how did he offer himself?   Hebrews 5:7

 

 

2. To whom did he offer prayers and supplications, and why was he heard?  Hebrews 5:7

 

 

3. What did Jesus say to his disciples in the Garden of

Gethsemane, and in what way did he pray?

Matthew 26:38 and Luke 22:44

 

 

4. What did King Darius decree? Daniel 6:26-28

 

 

5. Son though he was, what did he learn from what he suffered? Hebrews 5:8

 

 

6. To what did Jesus become obedient? Philippians 2:8

 

 

7. What will many be made through the obedience of Jesus?

Romans 5:19

 

 

8. How do we share Christ’s sufferings? Philippians 3:10

 

 

9. When Jesus was made perfect, of what did he become the

source, and for whom?  Hebrews 5:9

 

 

10. What are we to be, just as our heavenly Father is?

Matthew 5:48

 

 

Personal – How have you suffered through your obedience to Christ in your dying to self for others?

 

 

FOURTH DAY          READ JOHN 12:20-33           GOSPEL

 

(“…but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”)

 

 

1. What did some Greeks ask Philip? John 12:20-21

 

 

2. What did Philip and Andrew do? John 12:22

 

 

3. What did Jesus say had to come for the Son of Man to be glorified?  John 12:23

 

4. What did Jesus say about a grain of wheat? John 12:24

 

 

5. What you sow is not brought to life unless it does what? 1 Corinthians 15:36

 

 

6. What does a grain of wheat produce if it dies? John   12:24

 

 

7. What happens to him who loves his life, and to him who hates his life?   John 12:25

 

 

8. Whoever serves Jesus must do what? Where he is, who   will also be there, and what will the Father do?  John    12:26

 

 

Personal – Name some of the ways you have died to self for those around you, and what is the fruit you bear?

 

 

9. What must one do who wishes to come after Jesus?

Matthew 16:24

 

 

10. What did Jesus say he was, and what question does he ask? What statement does he make about the hour?       John 12:27

 

 

11. What did Jesus say, what did the crowd hear, and what did some say? John 12:28-29

 

 

12. For whom did Jesus say the voice came, what did he say was the time, and who would be driven out?  John     12:30-31

 

13. Where did Jesus say he was going, and what has happened to the ruler of this world?    John 16:10-11

 

 

14. Who is greater than the one who is in the world?

1 John 4:4

 

 

15. When Jesus is lifted up from the earth, who will he draw to himself, and why did he say this?John 12:32-33

 

 

Personal – How have you experienced Jesus drawing you to himself?

 

 

FIFTH DAY       READ PSALM 51:3-4, 12-15             PSALM

 

 

(“I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners shall return to you.”)

 

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15.

 

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

 

JEREMIAH 31:31-34

 

 

The old covenant had been broken so many times, and God in his mercy had restored the Israelites every time they repented. This reading reveals to us that the old covenant which was built on the Law of Moses would be replaced by a new covenant with the “Messi­ah.” The old covenant was written on the tablets of stone which Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai (Ex. 20). God showed the people the beauty of any true function of his laws in the ten com­mandments.

 

The law was designed to lead Israel to a life of practical holi­ness, and in today’s reading we see the old covenant being replac­ed by a new one that had the laws of God imprinted on our hearts rather than on tablets of stone. The foundation of the old covenant was Moses and the Mosaic law, and the foundation of the new covenant is Jesus Christ. The new covenant goes beyond Israel and Judah and encompasses the whole world.

 

A personal relationship with God is now available, and Jeremiah looked forward to the day when this new covenant would be a reality. But for us the new covenant is already here, and the Word became flesh (John 1:14). We have available to us right now a deep and personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This can be a permanent relationship with the God of all.

 

Do you long for a relationship like this? Then, right now, get down on your knees and invite him into your heart. Tell him you want him to bring his new covenant into your heart. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus and you will be renewed forever and ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEBREWS 5:7-9

 

This reading really brings home the fact that Jesus found no pleasure in suffering and dying. He willingly chose to endure pain and humiliation in order to obey his Father.

 

At times we will find ourselves choosing to allow ourselves to undergo trials and pain and humiliation, not because we want to suffer, but because we want to obey God.  In our time of trial, we can draw upon the example of Jesus’ obedience, and we find we can face anything when we know that Jesus Christ is with us. When we pray to the Lord, let our spirit be in obedience with his Holy Spirit. Many times we cry out to God in a spirit of disobedience and wonder why it seems as if he is not listening. All suffering is not of the Lord, and some suffering is very destructive and wasted. When our suffering turns us toward the Lord and we join our suffering with his, it becomes what is called redemptive suffering. It brings us through our suffering into a tremendous harmony with Christ. This harmony and peace can come only through obedience to his Holy Word. People are tremen­dously influenced by the courage, patience, long-suffering, and joy of a suffering, obedient person.

 

Jesus’ life was not a script that he passively followed. It was a life he chose to give. He chose to obey even when it began leading to his death. We need not fear suffering, whether it be from sickness, imprisonment, or persecution, because if we are obedient to his word, he will bring us to him in full glory and free us from all suffering. He offers salvation to all those who obey him.

 

JOHN 12:20-33

 

 

Today’s Gospel is not for the faint-hearted, and it is not for those who are looking for a quick fix. The message is loud and clear, and it is a message of complete obedience. To obey complete­ly means not to question at all. We are being told that unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.

 

We are told that to be a disciple of Christ we have to follow in his footsteps, and this means walking along the path of pain, suffering, and humiliation. We are being called to follow in his footsteps into the terror of Calvary and the shock of his death on the cross. To follow in Jesus’ footsteps is to renounce our own direction and follow his. To follow in his footprints we must be like the grain of wheat that dies. This means we must die to ourselves, our ego, our pet needs, our dreams, and our future.

 

We need not fear to follow in Jesus’ footsteps because he died to show his power over sin and death, and his resurrection proves he has eternal life. We can rejoice because he gives this same eternal life to all who believe in him. To live for Christ is to live for others by dying to ourselves. This does not mean that we want to physically die but means that we want to live only to glorify Christ. We may never be called to make a sacri­fice like Jesus did, but we are called into obedience to him. Whatever the Father asks, we should do, and bring glory to his name. Jesus loved us so much that he went willingly to that cross of pain and death. His resurrection shattered Satan’s power over death (Col. 1:13, 14). We need never fear following in Jesus’ footsteps because he tells us in scripture, “There is one greater in you than there is in the world,” (1 John 4:4).

 

 

 

Application

 

The first reading tells us that God has imprinted his law on our hearts. The second reading reveals that suffering can lead to obedience, and obedience leads to holiness. The Gospel shows us that following in Jesus’ footsteps is anything but glamorous and safe.

 

This week make a deliberate effort to give God the glory of your efforts rather than seeking attention and praise for your­self. This will help others to give glory to God for their efforts instead of seeking attention and praise for them­selves.

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THE BREAD OF LIFE

CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

 

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT – CYCLE B

 

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

 

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.  “THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.”  (JOHN 14:26)

 

Application

 

The first reading is a call to practical holiness. The second reading reveals the Messiah as a suffering servant. The Gospel tells us that our church is meant to be a place of wor­ship.

 

This week, see what needs to be done by your family to make your church a place of worship. See what needs to be done by you to make your family see you as one who is becoming holy. Then go in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of his Holy Spirit, and in accordance with his Father’s will, DO IT.

 

FIRST DAY  Reread last week’s readings.

 

1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

2. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

 

SECOND DAY      READ 2 CHRONICLES 36:14-17, 19-23  FIRST READING

 

(“for he had compassion on his people

and his dwelling place.”)

 

1. Who added infidelity to infidelity, what did they practice, and what did they do to the Lord’s temple?

2 Chronic­les 36:14

 

 

2. What do those who indulge in sexual promiscuity and practice unnatural vice defile?   Jude 1:7-8

 

 

3. When did the Lord, the God of their fathers, send his

messengers to those polluting the temple, and for what

reason?    2 Chronicles 36:15

 

 

4. On whom does the Lord have compassion? Psalm 103:13

 

 

5. In what is God great? Psalm 51:3

 

 

Personal – How have you experienced the compassion of the Lord, and how have you been compassionate with those around you?

 

 

 

6. Whom did the people mock, and what did the Lord become? 2 Chronicles 36:16

 

 

7. Whom did the Lord bring up against them, what happened to their young men, and whom did he deliver over to   the king? 2 Chronicles 36:17

 

 

8. What did they do to the house of God? 2 Chr. 36:19

 

 

9. What happened to those who escaped the sword, and

what did they become?   2 Chronicles 36:20

 

 

10. What did Jesus say a man is who commits sin, and where

does he not remain forever?   John 8:34-35

 

 

11. What was all this to fulfill? 2 Chronicles 36:21

 

 

12. In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,    what did the Lord inspire the king to do?

2 Chronicles 36:22-23

 

 

Personal – In what way have you heard the word of the Lord, and how will you fulfill it?

 

 

THIRD DAY             READ EPHESIANS 2:4-10       SECOND READING

 

(“For by grace you have been saved through faith,”)

 

1. In what is God rich, and what is great that he has for us? Ephesians 2:4

 

 

2. When we were dead in our transgressions, to what did he bring us?   Ephesians 2:5

 

 

3. How does God prove his love for us? Romans 5:8

 

 

4. With whom have we been raised up, where has he seated us, and for what reason? Ephesians 2:6-7

 

 

 

5. If Christ is in us, what is dead and what is alive,

and why?    Romans 8:10

 

 

6. What will happen to him who insults the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29

 

 

7. How have we been saved, through what have we been saved, and from whom is it not?    Ephesians 2:8

 

 

8. What has God given us, from what is it not, so no one shall do what? Ephesians 2:8-9

 

 

9. How is no one justified? Galatians 2:16

 

 

10. What should no human being do, and how should we boast?

1 Corinthians 1:29-31

 

 

11. What are we to God, how are we created, and what has God prepared in advance so that we should live in    them? Ephesians 2:10

 

 

12. What is one who is in Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

 

Personal – What are the good works God has created for you to do? See Ephesians 4:11-16

 

 

FOURTH DAY              READ JOHN 3:14-21                 GOSPEL

 

(“…everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”)

 

1. What did Moses make, where did he mount it, and what happened to those that looked at it?  Numbers 21:9

 

 

2. Why must the Son of Man be lifted up? John 3:14-15

 

 

3. Whom does God love, whom did he give, and how may we have eternal life?   John 3:16

 

 

4. How is the love of God revealed to us? 1 John 4:9

 

5. What did God send his Son into the world not to do, and for what reason did he send his Son into the     world? John 3:17

 

 

6. If anyone hears Jesus’ words and does not observe them, what condemns him?    John 12:47-48

 

 

7. What must we do in order not to be condemned?John 3:18

 

 

8. From what has the one who believes in Jesus passed?

John 5:24

 

 

9. What is the verdict? John 3:19

 

 

10. Who does Jesus say he is? John 8:12

 

 

11. What does everyone who does wicked things hate, toward what does he not come, and for what reason?  John 3:20

 

 

12. Who are those who rebel against the light?

Job 24:13-17

 

 

13. Who comes to the light, and how will his works be clearly seen?   John 3:21

 

 

14. Who is the light of the world, for whom must that light shine, and for what reason?   Matthew 5:14, 16

 

 

Personal – How do those around you see the light of Christ within you, and how often do they see it?   If you do not know, step out and ask those closest to you what they see in you. Take to the Lord in prayer whatever is revealed to you.

 

 

FIFTH DAY              READ PSALM 137:1-6

 

(“If I forget you, Jerusalem,

may my right hand be forgotten.”)

 

Read and meditate on Psalm 137:1-6.

 

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY

 

2 CHRONICLES 36:14-17, 19-23

 

 

God warned Judah about its sin and continually restored the people to his favor, only to have them turn away. The people refused to listen to the words of the prophet Jeremiah, and eventually the situation of sinful living was beyond remedy. This happened to a people who worshipped the heathen idols of the surrounding nations. The people from the top, the leaders and high priests and many of the important people of Judah harbored rebellion in their hearts and led the nation into its downfall.

 

Today we see many of the same attitudes in many nations. There seems to be a race toward self-destruction. The traditional values seem to be more a part of history rather than our present and future. We have to beware of harboring sin in our heart and becoming a rebellious people. We may also reflect on our actions and be aware that the day will come for all of us when remedy is no longer possible and God’s judgment replaces his mercy. History has clearly shown us that sin often repeated, but never repented invites disaster.

 

This chapter closes with the end of the exile and the promise of a new future for the remnants of God’s chosen people. The temple represented the greatest dedication of worship the world had ever seen. Yet the temple was destroyed, the kings were gone, the people removed, and the nation was stripped to its very foundation.  Fortunately there was a greater foundation, and that is God himself.

 

Today when it seems as if everything is being stripped away from us, we need to remember that we too still have God in his Holy Word, his presence, his sacraments, and in his promise that he would be with us for all ages (Matthew 28:20).

 

 

EPHESIANS 2:4-10

 

This reading reveals to us that we need not live any longer under sin’s power. Jesus Christ destroyed the penalty and power of sin through his death on the cross. We have been found through faith in Christ to be acquitted “not guilty” before God. This does not mean that God has taken us out of the world or turned us into robots. We still fall to sin on occasions. But now the difference is Christ’s incredible gift to us; we can choose to live for him or choose to ignore and reject him. We know that just as Jesus rose from the dead, so will our bodies be raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:12-19). We have been given the power to live the fully human, fully alive Christian life now (Ephesians 1:19).

 

Paul tells us of sitting with Christ in glory because we who have faith in him are united in his powerful victory. It is obvious that this gift of salvation is not a reward for something good that we have done. The fact is that it is a gift freely given and the response by us is not “How much do I owe you?” The response to his gift is “Thank you.” Many people feel obligated to try to work their way to God even after they have been made aware of this incredible gift. We can respond to the gift of our salvation and even our faith only with gratitude, praise and joyful­ness. This unmerited gift to us from God is called “grace,” (Eph. 1:8), and it is not the result of any effort, ability, intelligence, or act of service to others on our part. We do good not to become good, but rather because of the goodness which is the Holy Spirit that resides within us (1 John 4:4). Out of gratitude and joy, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness and love. Let us remember that we are not saved merely for our own benefit. We are called to glorify him and build up his church (Ephesians 4:12).

 

 

JOHN 3:14-21

 

 

In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus is telling the people that when the Israelites were wandering in the wilder­ness, God sent forth a plague of venomous snakes to punish them for their rebellious attitudes. Those who were doomed to die from snakebite could be cured by obeying God’s command to look up at the bronze serpent on the pole that Moses was carrying. The bronze snake on the pole did not heal anyone, but their belief that God could heal them did it. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience in following God’s command.

 

Believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus’ death on the cross. We will be saved from sin’s deadly “bite” by looking to Jesus and believing he will heal us. To many people eternal life holds no great promise if it means the extension of a miserable mortal life on earth. To believe in Jesus Christ and gain eternal life is a life where there is no death, sickness, enemies, evil or sin. When we do not know Christ, we make choices as though this life were all we have. In reality, we believe this life is just an introduction to eter­nity.

 

We need to begin to evaluate from an eternal perspective all that happens to us each day.  God sets the pattern of true love here. If we love someone dearly, we are willing to give the ultimate price for that person’s responsive love. God paid dearly with the life of his son, the highest price he could pay. Jesus offered us the new life he bought for us. He paid the price of our sins with his blood and life.

When you and I share the Gospel with others, our love must be like his. We must be willing to give up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God’s love. The darkness is very comfortable to some people because they do not want their lives exposed to God’s light. They are afraid of what it might reveal about themselves. It might call for a change and they do not want to change. Do not let others intimidate you in your desire to obey God and do what is right. They are afraid that you may expose some of the darkness in their lives. You are to keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in the light than in darkness. He has promised us eternal life if we believe in him (John 3:16). Take him up on that promise. He is a God who really delivers.

 

Application

 

The first reading shows us that God restores those who repent.  The second reading tells us that we do not have to live under sin’s power any longer. The Gospel promises eternal life if we believe in Christ.

 

This week show others how the light and love of Christ shines through you. By your actions show your kindness and gentle­ness to your family members, classmates or co-workers. Be specific and pick out a particular person each day and let the light and love of God light up your life by being patient and kind. Be generous and humble, not jealous or rude. Practice this for one week and you will light up your whole family, school and job.  Let your light shine, let your light shine.