Daily Bible Reflections

February 15, 2011

1st READING

We all know the story of Noah and the Flood, but what should we learn from it? I think one lesson we can learn is that God will go to extraordinary lengths to preserve His Creation – not just humanity, but all of the animals. This ought to instill in us a deep respect for the gift of Creation to the point that we realize that we need to be good stewards of the earth and its resources so that the generations after us do not inherit a wasteland!

Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10
5 When the LORD saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil, 6 he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved. 7 So the LORD said: “I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD. 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just. 2 Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs, a male and its mate; and of the unclean animals, one pair, a male and its mate; 3 likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs, a male and a female, and of all the unclean birds, one pair, a male and a female. Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earth every moving creature that I have made.” 5 Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him. 10 As soon as the seven days were over, the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

P S A L M

Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.
1 Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, 2 give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. (R) 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic. (R) The God of glory thunders, 9 and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus’ reference is not a literal one. He is referring to the fact that if we allow evil or worldly attitudes to enter our lives or society, we will discover that they will not just remain dormant but ‘leaven’ the whole of our lives or society with their errors or misplaced priorities. The challenge we face is to be discerning as regards the influences we allow to form our minds and hearts and restrict them to those that will form us in the ways of Christ and His kingdom.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Mark 8:14-21
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

my reflections
t h i n k : W e need to be good stewards of the earth and its resources so that the generations following us do not inherit a wasteland!

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 19-21