Catholic Daily Reading 9 March 2020
Reading 1, Daniel 9:4-10
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 79:8, 9, 11, 13
Gospel, Luke 6:36-38
Reading 1, Daniel 9:4-10
4 I pleaded with Yahweh my God and made this confession: ‘O my Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and show faithful love towards those who love you and who observe your commandments:
5 we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and rulings and turned away from them.
6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our chief men, our ancestors and all people of the country.
7 Saving justice, Lord, is yours; we have only the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treachery we have committed against you.
8 To us, our kings, our chief men and our ancestors, belongs the look of shame, O Yahweh, since we have sinned against you.
9 And it is for the Lord our God to have mercy and to pardon, since we have betrayed him,
10 and have not listened to the voice of Yahweh our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.
Catholic Daily Reading 9 March 2020
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 79:8, 9, 11, 13
8 Do not count against us the guilt of former generations, in your tenderness come quickly to meet us, for we are utterly weakened;
9 help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; Yahweh, wipe away our sins, rescue us for the sake of your name.
11 May the groans of the captive reach you, by your great strength save those who are condemned to death!
13 And we, your people, the flock that you pasture, will thank you for ever, will recite your praises from age to age.
Gospel, Luke 6:36-38
36 ‘Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.’
Today’s Daily Devotional, 9 March 2020
Topic: Giving Despite Struggle
Scripture: Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. – Luke 6:38
Message: I am the campaign chair at my workplace for a local charity. It has been a bit surprising to me how hard it is to get people to give when they haven’t given before, or to get those who have given to increase their gifts. I understand. Even though I run the campaign, I also struggle to increase my gift. It is hard to give. Our own needs (and wants) are never far from our minds. To motivate myself, I recall how difficult it is when one paycheck doesn’t stretch to the next. One has to juggle bills, deciding which to pay this week and which to let ride for another week. And, unexpected bills can lay one flat. It can grind your spirit.
For all but a very few of us, though, there’s someone who is struggling more than we are. And they are giving what may seem like a small amount to someone who’s even worse off. Giving from abundance is relatively easy, but giving from struggle will be greatly rewarded by God.