Cristy Li

This is the day that the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  –Psalm 118:24

God’s Faithfulness To Israel!

Glory in His (God) Holy name;

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord Rejoice! (Psalm 105:3)

Give Thanks to the Lord, call on His name,

make known His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Tell of all His wondrous works.

Glory in His Holy name;

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord Rejoice!

Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works He has done,

His miracles and the judgments He has uttered.

O offspring of His servant Abraham,

children of Jacob, His chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God!

His judgments are in all the earth.

He is mindful of His Covenant forever.

of the Word He commanded, for a thousand generations,

the Covenant that He made to Abraham,

His sworn promise to Issac,

which He confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

to Israel as an everlasting Covenant, saying,

“To you, I will give the land of Canaan

as your portion for an inheritance.” (See: Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18)

When they were few in number

of little account and strangers in it,

wandering from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another people,

He allowed no one to oppose them;

He rebuked kings on their account,

saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;

do my Prophets no harm.” (See: 1 Chronicles 16:22)

When He summoned famine against the land

and broke every staff of bread,

He had sent a man ahead of them,

Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

His feet were hurt with fetters,

his neck was put in a collar of iron

until what he had said came to pass,

the Word of the Lord kept testing him.

The king sent and released him;

the ruler of the peoples set him free.

He made him lord of his house

and ruler of all his possessions,

to instruct his officials at his pleasure

and to teach his elders wisdom.

Then Israel came to Egypt;

Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham

and the Lord made His people very fruitful

and made them stronger than their foes,

whose hearts he then turned to hate his people,

to deal craftily with his servants.

He (God) sent His servant Moses

and Aaron whom He had chosen.

They performed His signs among them

and miracles in the land of Ham.

He sent darkness and made the land dark;

they rebelled against His Words.

He (God) turned their waters into blood

and caused their fish to die.

Their land swarmed with frogs,

even in the chambers of their kings.

He spoke and there came swarms of flies

and gnats throughout their country.

He (God) gave them hail for rain

and lightning that flashed through their land.

He (G0d) struck their vines and fig trees

and shattered the trees of their country.

He (God) spoke and the locusts came

and young locusts without number;

they devoured all the vegetation of their land

and ate up the fruit of their ground.

He (God) struck down all the firstborn in their land,

the first issue of all their strength.

Then He (God) brought Israel out with silver and gold

and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled.

Egypt was glad when they departed,

for dread of them had fallen upon it.

He (God) spread a cloud for a covering

and fire to gibe light by night.

They asked and God brought quails

and gave them food from Heaven in abundance.

God opened the rock and water gushed out,

it flowed through the desert like a river.

For He (God) remembered His Holy Promise

and Abraham his servant.

So He (God) brought His people (Israel) out with joy,

His chosen ones with singing.

He (God) gave them the lands of the nations

and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,

that they might keep His Statutes

and observe His Laws.

Praise the Lord!  –Psalm 105:1-45

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Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the Prophets but in these Last Days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being and He sustains all things by His powerful Word. When He made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High, having become as much superior to Angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  –Hebrews 1:1-4

Praise The Judge of the World

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God!  (Psalm 98:3B)

O sing to the Lord a new song,

for He has done marvelous things.

His right hand and His holy arm

have gotten Him victory.

The Lord has made known His victory;

He has revealed His vindication in the sight

of the nations.

He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness

to the House of Israel!

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea roar and all that fills it;

the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;

Let the hills sing together for joy

at the presence of the Lord, for He is coming

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and the people with equity.  –Psalm 98:1-9

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
  Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

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Christ Jesus: “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 the sheep.” –John 10:14-15

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

Not to us (Not for us –Tehillim 115:1) O Lord, not for us but to Your name give glory

for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness.

(Your kindness and for your truthfulness –Tehillim 115:1)

Why should the nations say, “Where is their (your –Tehillim 115:2) God now?

Our God is in Heaven,

He does whatever He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths but do not speak;

eyes but do not see.

They have ears but do not hear;

noses but do not smell.

They have hands but do not feel;

feet but do not walk;

They make no sound in their throats.

Those who make them are like them;

so all who trust in them.

Israel, trust in the Lord!

He is their help and their shield.

House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!

He is their help and their shield.

You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord,

He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us (Who remembers us –Tehillim 115:12)

He will bless us;

He will bless the House of Israel;

He will bless the House of Aaron;

He will bless those who fear the Lord,

both small and great.

May the Lord give you increase,

both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord

who made Heaven and earth.

The Heavens are the Lord’s Heavens

but the earth He has given to human beings.

The dead do not praise the Lord,

nor do any that  go down (descend to the grave –Tehillim 115:17) into silence.

But we will bless the Lord

from this time on and forevermore.

Praise the Lord!  –Psalm 115:1-18

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Jesus taught, “Very truly I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but

climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the Shepherd

of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him and the sheep hear His voice. He calls His

own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes ahead

of them and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. They will not follow a stranger

but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

Jesus used this figure of speech with them but they did not understand what He was saying to

them. So again, Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, I am the Gate for the sheep. All who

came before Me are thieves and bandits; the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Gate.

Whoever enters by me will be saved (See: John 14:6) and will come in and go out and find

pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have

it abundantly.”

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand,

who is not the Shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep

and runs away — the wold snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because

a hired hand does not care 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. I lay down My life for the sheep. I

have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to

My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me because

I lay down My life (See: Isaiah 53:3-12) in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me but

I lay it down of My Own accord. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up

again. I have received this command from My Father.”

Again, the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a

demon and is out of His mind. Why listen to Him?” Others were saying, “These are not the

words of One who has a demon, Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (See: John 9:6-7;

John 9:32-33) 

Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

At that time the Festival of the Dedication (Chanukah, the Festival of Light, eve of 25th day of

Kislev) took place in Jerusalem, it was winter and Jesus was walking in the Temple, in the

Portico of Solomon, so the Jews gathered around Him and said to Jesus, “How long will You

keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you and you do not believe because you do not belong to My sheep.

My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they will

never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. What My Father has given Me is greater

than all us and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.”

The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good

works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone Me?”

The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy

because You, though only a human being are making Yourself God.”

Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said you are gods?’ (See: Psalm 82:6) If those

to whom the Word of God came were called ‘gods’ and the Scripture cannot be annulled — can

you say that the One whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming

because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe

Me (See: John536) but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works so

that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father.”

(See:14:10-11; John 17:21)

Then they tried to arrest Him again but he escaped from their hands. Jesus went away again

across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier and He remained there.

Many came to Him and they were saying, “John performed no sign but everything that John

said about This Man was true.” Many believed in Him there.  –John 10:1-42

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Mount Zion in the far north, the City of the Great King — In The City of Our God,
which God establishes forever! –Cf. Psalm 48:1-2; 8B
Image Courtesy: Chabad.org

The Glory and Strength of Zion

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

in the City of Our God

His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,

is the joy of all the earth,

Mount Zion in the far north,

the City of the Great King!

Within its citadels God

has shown Himself a sure defense.

Then the kings assembled,

they came on together.

As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;

They were in panic, they took to flight;

trembling took hold on them there,

pains as of a woman in labor,

as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.

As we have heard, so we have seen

in the City of Our God,

which God establishes forever!

We ponder Your steadfast love, O God,

in the midst of Your Temple.

Your Name, O God, like Your praise,

reaches to the ends of the earth.

Your right hand is filled with victory.

Let Mount Zion be glad,

let the towns of Judah rejoice

because of Your judgments.

Walk about Zion, go all around it,

count its towers,

consider well its ramparts;

Go through its citadels,

that you may tell the next generation

that this is God,

Our God forever and ever!

He will be our guide forever!  –Psalm 48:1-14

Profaning (Desecrating) the Holy

Jesus taught, “Do not give what is Holy to dogs and do not throw your pearls before swine or

they will trample them under foot, turn and maul you.”

Ask, Search & Knock

“Ask and it will be given you; Search and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened for

you. For everyone who asks receives and everyone who searches finds and for everyone who

knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread,

will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know

how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will Your Father in Heaven give good

things to those who ask Him!”

The Golden Rule

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you;

For this is the Law and the Prophets.”

The Narrow Gate

“Enter through the narrow gate; For the gate is wide and the road easy that leads to destruction

and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life

and there are few who find it.”  –Matthew 7:6-14

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The Lord has established His throne in the heavens
and His Kingdom rules over all. –Psalm 103:19
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

Thanksgiving For God’s Goodness

Bless the Lord O my soul
and all that is within me,
Bless His Holy Name!

Bless the Lord O my soul
and do not forget all His benefits —
Who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit (Hell)
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not accuse,
nor will He keep His anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
so far He removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him.
For He knows how we were made;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field,
for the wind passes over it and it is gone,
its place knows it no more.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear Him
and His righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep His Covenant
and remember to do His Commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens
and His Kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you His angels,
you mighty ones who do His bidding,
obedient to His spoken Word.

Bless the Lord, all His hosts,
His ministers that do His will.

Bless the Lord, all His works,
in all of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! –Psalm 103:1-22

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Heaven and Earth Are Full of Your Glory
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Praise For God’s Universal Glory

Praise The Lord!

Praise the Lord from the Heavens;

Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels;

Praise Him, all His host!

Praise Him, sun and moon;

Praise Him, all you shining stars!

Praise Him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the heavens!

Let them Praise the name of the Lord,

for He commanded and they were created.

He established them forever and ever;

He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.

Praise The Lord from the earth,

you sea monsters and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and frost,

stormy wind fulfilling His command!

Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

Wild animals and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and women alike,

old and young together!

Let them Praise the name of the Lord,

for His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people,

Praise for all His faithful,

for the people of Israel who are close to Him.

Praise The Lord! –Psalm 148:1-14

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The Seed is the Word of God, Christ is the Sower. All who come to Him will live forever!

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house and His disciples approached Him saying,

‘Explain to us the Parable of the Weeds of the field.’ (Matthew 13:1-9)

Jesus answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world and

the good seed are the children of the kingdom;  The weeds are the children of the Evil One

(Satan) and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil;

The harvest is the end of the age and the Reapers are Angels.

Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

The Son of Man will send His Angels and they will collect out of the kingdom all causes of sin

and all evildoers and they will throw them into the furnace of fire (Hell) where there will be

weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.

Let anyone with ears listen!” –Matthew 13:36-43

Thanksgiving For God’s Goodness

The Lord is merciful and gracious. (Psalm 103:8A)

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul and do not forget all His benefits — Who forgives all your iniquity,

Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the Pit (Hell),

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good as long as you live

so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the People of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always accuse, nor will He keep His anger forever.

The Lord is merciful and gracious. (Psalm 103:8A)

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the Heavens are high above the earth,

so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.

The Lord is merciful and gracious. (Psalm 103:8A)

As far as the east is from the west, so far He removes our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear

Him. For He knows how we were made, He remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field, for the wind

passes over it and it is gone and its place knows it no more but the steadfast love of the Lord is

from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children’s

children, to those who  keep His Covenant and remember to do His Commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the Heavens and His Kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you His Angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding,

obedient to His spoken Word.

Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers that do His will.

Bless the Lord all His works, in all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. –Psalm 103:1-22

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB

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