◀ All Reading Plans / Book of Common Prayer / Ps. 131 132 [133]; Ps. 134 135; Ezek. 37:21b–28; 1 John 2:18–29; Matt. 10:16–23 (New Catholic Bible)

Prev Day

May 15, 2008

Next Day

Use the calendar to view readings from this devotional.

May 2008
Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Return to today's reading

Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.

Duration: 861 days

Psalm 131-135

Psalm 131^[a]

Childlike Trust in God

¹A song of ascents. Of David.

O Lord, my heart^[b] is not proud,
    nor are my eyes raised too high.
I do not concern myself with great affairs
    or with things too sublime for me.
²Rather, I have stilled and calmed my soul,^[c]
    hushed it like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child held in its mother’s arms,
    so is my soul within me.
³O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.^[d]

Psalm 132^[e]

The Divine Promises Made to David

¹A song of ascents.

Remember, O Lord, for David’s sake,
    all the difficulties he endured.^[f]
²^[g]He swore an oath to the Lord
    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
³“I will not enter the house I live in
    or lie down on the bed where I sleep,
⁴neither will I allow myself to fall asleep
    or even to close my eyes,
⁵until I find a home for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
⁶We heard of it in Ephrathah;
    we came upon it^[h] in the fields of Jaar.
⁷^[i]Let us enter his dwelling place,
    let us worship at his footstool.
⁸Arise, O Lord, and go up to your resting place,
    you and the Ark of your might.
⁹Let your priests clothe themselves with righteousness,^[j]
    and let your saints shout for joy.
¹⁰For the sake of your servant David,
    do not reject your anointed one.^[k]
¹¹The Lord swore this oath^[l] to David,
    an oath that he will not renounce:
“One of your own descendants
    I will place on your throne.
¹²If your sons keep my covenant
    and the statutes that I will teach them,
their sons will also rule
    on your throne from age to age.”^[m]
¹³For the Lord has chosen Zion;
    he has designated it for his home:
¹⁴“This will be my resting place forever;
    here I will reside, for such is my wish.
¹⁵^[n]“I will bless it with abundant provisions
    and satisfy its poor with their fill of bread.
¹⁶I will clothe its priests with salvation,
    and its saints will shout for joy.
¹⁷“There I will raise up a horn for David^[o]
    and prepare a lamp for my anointed one.
¹⁸I will clothe his enemies with shame,
    but on his head there will be a resplendent crown.”^[p]

Psalm 133^[q]

The Blessings of Brotherly Accord

¹A song of ascents. Of David.^[r]

How wonderful and delightful it is
    for brothers to live together in unity.^[s]
²It is like fragrant ointment poured on the head,
    running down upon the beard,
running down upon the beard of Aaron,
    and flowing on the collar of his robes.^[t]
³It is like the dew of Hermon
    falling upon the mountains of Zion.^[u]
For there the Lord has bestowed his blessing,
    life forevermore.

Psalm 134^[v]

Invitation to Night Prayer

¹A song of ascents.

Come forth to bless the Lord,
    all you servants of the Lord,^[w]
who minister throughout the night
    in the house of the Lord.
²Lift up your hands toward^[x] the sanctuary
    and bless the Lord.
³May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,
    bless you from Zion.^[y]

Psalm 135^[z]

Praise of God, Benefactor of His People

¹^[aa]Alleluia.

Praise the name of the Lord;
    offer him praise, you servants of the Lord,^[ab]
²you who minister in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.^[ac]
³Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to honor his name, for he is gracious.^[ad]
⁴For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his treasured possession.^[ae]
⁵^[af]I know that the Lord is great,
    that our Lord is superior to all gods.^[ag]
⁶The Lord does whatever he pleases
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and in all their depths.^[ah]
⁷He causes clouds to rise
    from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning^[ai] with the rain
    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
⁸^[aj]He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,^[ak]
    those of humans as well as of animals.
⁹He sent signs and portents into your midst, O Egypt,^[al]
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.
¹⁰He struck down many nations
    and slew mighty kings:
¹¹Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kings of Canaan.^[am]
¹²He then gave their lands as a heritage,
    a heritage to his people Israel.^[an]
¹³Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, O Lord, lasts throughout the ages.^[ao]
¹⁴For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and show compassion to his servants.^[ap]
¹⁵^[aq]The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
¹⁶They have mouths but they cannot speak;
    they have eyes but they cannot see.
¹⁷They have ears but they cannot hear,
    and there is no breath in their mouths.
¹⁸Those who make them end up like them,
    as do all who place their trust in them.
¹⁹^[ar]O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
    O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
²⁰O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
    You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
²¹Blessed from Zion be the Lord,
    he who dwells in Jerusalem.
Alleluia.^[as]

Footnotes

Psalm 131:1 Certainly the Prophets dared to state that God was like a mother for his people (see Isa 66:12f; Hos 11:4). But here is a man who has not fled from the experience of life; he lays bare the depth of his heart: the soul of a child before God. This psalm strikes us with great freshness and simplicity, and it is the most moving and evangelical of the psalms. A believer of the Old Testament has discovered the voice of spiritual childhood: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3).
We can pray this psalm with the awareness that after practicing abandonment to God’s hands, Jesus offers it as an ideal for us also, for like him we are children of the heavenly Father: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). We must flee from all desire to go beyond God and his help (see Mt 23:11; Jas 4:6f; 1 Pet 5:5f). The Father alone can make our labors fruitful through Christ (see Jn 15:1-17; 1 Cor 3:5-8); without Christ we can do nothing (see Jn 15:5).
Psalm 131:1 Heart: see note on Ps 4:8. The psalmist has completely submitted himself to God in all humility (see Mic 6:8). He is not like the proud who rely only on themselves (see note on Ps 31:24). He knows that true holiness begins in a heart bereft of pride (see Prov 18:12), with eyes that do not envy (see Pss 18:28; 101:5; Prov 16:5), and a manner of life that is not presumptuous, not preoccupied with great things (see Jer 45:5) and achievements that are too sublime, i.e., too difficult or arduous, beyond one’s powers (see Deut 17:8; 30:11).
Psalm 131:2 Soul: see note on Ps 6:4. The psalmist keeps a guard over his desires. He is like a weaned child, who no longer frets for what it used to find indispensable and walks trustingly by its mother or lies peacefully in its mother’s arms.
Psalm 131:3 Likewise all Israel, all God’s people, must hope only in the Lord. Weaned away from insubstantial ambitions, we must hanker for the sole solid fare: “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to accomplish his work” (Jn 4:34).
Psalm 132:1 By means of this psalm, the pilgrims, assembled for the procession, sing the glory of Zion, the dwelling place of God and the residence of his anointed, i.e., the king descended from David and like him, was consecrated with holy oil. Doubtless, this is a celebration of the anniversary of the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem at the time of King David (see 2 Sam 6; 1 Chr 13–16). This hymn provides a splendid occasion to remind God of the commitment he made in favor of his people: David had sworn to build a dwelling in which to house the Ark, sign of the divine presence, and it was the Lord who promised him that he would ensure his lineage on the royal throne (see oracle of Nathan: 2 Sam 7; 1 Chr 17) at Jerusalem, where the king had projected to build God’s residence.
Each new reign gave birth to a new hope, for every one of David’s descendants is “anointed,” that is, “Messiah” in Hebrew and “Christ” in Greek. When the fallibility of the monarchy became flagrant, the hope subsisted with more intensity. All Israel awaits a last descendant of David, a true Messiah, who will permanently restore God’s reign and his worship forever. It will be the time of God’s glory and salvation; it will be the coming of Jesus Christ, Son of David, whom Luke (Lk 1:69) presents to us by citing verse 17 of this psalm. Verses 8-10, 16 are cited by the Chronicler at the end of the prayer of Solomon (see 2 Chr 6:41f).
Therefore, as we pray this psalm, we can remind God of the merits of David as well as those of Christ, asking him to fulfill the oaths made to David as supplementary motives for fulfilling those made to Christ. We can urge him to enthrone his Son fully in the heavenly Zion and establish therein his perfect kingship for the benefit of his faithful and the eternal confusion of his enemies.
Psalm 132:1 All the difficulties he endured: in the conquest of Jerusalem (see 2 Sam 5:6-12) and in bringing the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6:1-23). Some translate: “and all his anxious care,” i.e., to build the temple (see 2 Sam 7:1-17; 1 Ki 8:17).
Psalm 132:2 Although the oath and vow of David have not been recorded in the Bible, it is clear that when David heard that God had blessed Obed-edom, the guardian of the ark (see 2 Sam 6:12), he immediately made efforts to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. Mighty One of Jacob: a title used by Jacob in Gen 49:24 and by Isaiah (49:26; 60:16) that emphasizes God’s action in saving and redeeming his people. Jacob: a synonym for Israel (see Gen 32:28f).
Psalm 132:6 It . . . it: often regarded as referring to the Ark, but more likely it refers to the call to worship that follows. Ephrathah: David’s hometown near Bethlehem (see Ru 4:11; Mic 5:1). Fields of Jaar: i.e., Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark remained for a few generations (see 1 Sam 7:1f; 2 Sam 6:2; 1 Chr 13:5f).
Psalm 132:7 Together with David and his men, the people wished to worship the Lord in Jerusalem. The Ark had been transported by the priests until it was placed in the tabernacle at Shiloh (see 1 Sam 4:3). With the capture of the Ark by the Philistines, it was taken from city to city (see 1 Sam 4–6) until David brought it to Jerusalem and inaugurated a new era in God’s rule over Israel: the Davidic era. The Ark was the footstool of the Lord’s throne (see Ps 99:5) and symbolized God’s earthly rule (see Ps 99:1f; Num 10:35f; 2 Chr 6:41f). Arise, O Lord: the invocation whenever the Ark set out in the days of Moses (see Num 10:35).
Psalm 132:9 Righteousness: here synonymous with salvation (see 2 Chr 6:41), signifying victory, blessing, and deliverance (see Pss 4:2; 22:32; 24:5). Saints: the People of God who should be faithful to him (see note on Ps 34:10)
Psalm 132:10 The Messiah or Christ is the anointed one of the Lord (see Ps 2:2; 1 Sam 10:1), the descendant of David awaited by Israel.
Psalm 132:11 Swore this oath: no oath is mentioned in 2 Sam 7. However, elsewhere God’s promise to David is called a covenant (see Pss 89:4, 29, 35, 40; 2 Sam 23:5; Isa 55:3), and covenants were made with an oath.
Psalm 132:12 God’s sovereignty decrees that the dynasty of David will rule, but God’s holiness and justice stipulate that such will hold only if David and his descendants are loyal to his covenant statutes.
Psalm 132:15 The Lord will bless his people abundantly in his royal presence (see Deut 15:4-6); the poor and the priests will share in this new age.
Psalm 132:17 I will raise up a horn for David: a line close to Ezek 29:21; it has a Messianic sense (see Isa 11:1; Jer 33:15; Zec 3:8). The word “horn” here designates a powerful descendant (see Ps 75:6); God will strengthen the Davidic race from which the Messiah will arise (see Lk 1:69). Prepare a lamp for my anointed one: promise recorded in the Books of Kings (see 1 Ki 11:36; 15:4; 2 Ki 8:19). The house in which light no longer dawns is uninhabited (see Job 18:5; Jer 25:10). The Messiah will be the light of the Gentiles (see Isa 42:6; 49:6; Lk 2:32).
Psalm 132:18 This word of promise contains the Christian hope in the majesty, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus, who will put down all God’s enemies (see 1 Cor 15:25-28; Rev 19:17-21).
Psalm 133:1 The fragrant oil of anointing and the beneficial dew—such images speak for themselves for a Palestinian; for the poet, they evoke the charm of a living community gathered together around the priests and Levites in the holy city on the occasion of a pilgrimage. The holy city (v. 3), the priesthood (v. 2), and the communion of brothers—all is newness of grace at this moment.
This psalm easily finds an appropriate place on our lips to proclaim the advantages of concord among Christians in the bosom of the house of God, the Church. John the apostle reveals the evils of discord. The person who hates another is a murderer and remains in sin and death. Such a person is not loved by God and can receive no gift from him (see 1 Jn 3:15-17). Fraternal love constitutes the sign of true faith and with it the key to all the divine goods (see Mt 22:34-40; Jn 13:34f; 15:12-17). Only this love manifests that we are true children of God, born of him, and at the same time true disciples of Christ (see Jn 13:35; 1 Jn 4:7).
Psalm 133:1 Of David: these words, omitted from some MSS, refer to the reunion of the tribes of Israel at David’s anointing in Hebron (see 2 Sam 5:1ff).
Psalm 133:1 The psalmist pronounces a blessing on those who live together in unity, as, for example, those on pilgrimage who included people from many different walks of life, regions, and tribes, coming together for one purpose—to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
Psalm 133:2 Brotherly accord is compared with the copious oil running down the head, beard, and robes of the priests who were anointed. Just as the holy oil poured on the priests consecrated them to the Lord’s service, so brotherly unity sanctifies God’s people. Thus, the fellowship of God’s people on earth is an expression of the priesthood of all believers (see Ex 19:6), promised to Israel and renewed for the Church in Christ (see 1 Pet 2:9f).
Psalm 133:3 Dew of Hermon . . . mountains of Zion: because of its height (nearly ten thousand feet above sea level) and the rain, snow, and dew that fell atop it, Mount Hermon was famous for its rich foliage even during the dry summer months (see Ps 89:13; Deut 33:28; Song 5:2; Hos 14:6). Thus, the dew of Mount Hermon would make the mountains of Zion just as fruitful (see Gen 27:28; Hag 1:10; Zec 8:12). The psalmist indicates that no matter how harsh the conditions of the pilgrimage might be, the fellowship of God’s people was refreshing. For there . . . life forevermore: the divine blessing almost personified (see Lev 25:21; Deut 28:8) will procure happiness and salvation (see Pss 28:9; 36:11) in a definitive manner (see Pss 61:5; 73:26; Deut 30:16, 20).
Psalm 134:1 As the pilgrims leave the temple and invite the priests to keep up their praise during the night, the latter direct to them a blessing that brings to a close the Songs of Ascents, the Pilgrim’s Psalter, just as Ps 117 concludes the collection of Alleluia (or Hallelujah) Psalms (Pss 111–117).
This psalm should remind us that Jesus spent whole nights in prayer (see Lk 6:12) and that he urged the disciples to pray always and not lose heart (see Lk 18:1), a point reiterated by Paul in his first Letter: “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thes 5:17f). Hence, this dialogued hymn can be exchanged between Christians on earth: those who are often taken away from divine praise by their earthly duties should ask those who are better prepared for this (priests and religious) to assure in their name the work of praise that is so necessary.
Psalm 134:1 The psalmist calls upon the priests and Levites to lead the people in worship. These are the servants of the Lord who minister (literally, “stand”) in the house of the Lord. The priestly and Levitical ministry is often designated by the verb “stand” (see Ps 135:2; Deut 10:8), and they offered up musical praise to the Lord both day and night (see 1 Chr 9:33; 23:26, 30).
Psalm 134:2 The priests and Levites also prayed with hands lifted up (see Ps 28:2; 1 Tim 2:8) toward the sanctuary (see 1 Ki 8:30).
Psalm 134:3 The words of this verse recall the words spoken by the priests when blessing (see Num 6:24f). The blessing follows the people wherever they may go or live, because it comes from the Maker of heaven and earth, i.e., the Great King of the universe (see Ps 121:2). Yet, like God’s commandments, the blessing is not “beyond reach,” not “in heaven,” nor “beyond the sea,” but “very near” (see Deut 30:11-14; Rom 10:6ff)—from Zion. And it is the true Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus the “mediator of a new covenant” reigns in the midst of his people (see Heb 12:22-24).
Psalm 135:1 Composed of fragments taken from other psalms (Pss 113; 115; 134; 136), this hymn sings the praises of the true God. The psalmist acclaims the one who holds the whole universe in his hands; he glorifies the one who chose the people of Israel and guided them to their destiny from the liberation from Egypt up to their establishment in Canaan. The entire people—priests, Levites, faithful, and God-fearers (vv. 19-20)—is convoked to this praise, which celebrates the Creator of the world and the Redeemer of Israel. In the face of such solid faith, all mention of false gods becomes a caricature. Are our hymns to God true enough to cast scorn on all the new idols that we ceaselessly create for ourselves?
We can use this psalm to praise the heavenly Father for his wonders in favor of Israel (with whom we are spiritually united) and in favor of his Son Jesus, King of Israel. We can also use it to praise the Lord Jesus, Master of nature for the service of the new Israel, Savior of his Church, the only true God in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 135:1 An exhortation to praise God, who is good and who has love for his own.
Psalm 135:1 Taken from Ps 113:1; see Jud 4:14. The praise of God included a recitation of his wonders in creation (Ps 135:5-7) and in redemptive history (vv. 8-12). Servants of the Lord: although the identity of the “servants” is debated, the general consensus, based on the text itself, is that the word denotes the priests and Levites, who praised the Lord day and night (see 1 Chr 9:33; 23:26, 30).
Psalm 135:2 Taken from Ps 134:1; see Ps 92:14.
Psalm 135:3 Praise is due because the Lord himself is good and gracious (or beautiful; see Ps 27:4). The second part of the verse is close to Ps 147:1. He is gracious: another possible translation is: “it is pleasant.”
Psalm 135:4 Although all the nations are the Lord’s, he has chosen Israel as his own in a special way. Treasured possession: this phrase is found in Ex 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; see also Ps 33:12.
Psalm 135:5 The psalmist spells out the greatness of the Creator, who rules over all creation and is above all gods.
Psalm 135:5 Our Lord is superior to all gods: taken from Ex 18:11; see Ps 95:3.
Psalm 135:6 The Lord does whatever he pleases (see Ps 115:3) in his acts in heaven, on the earth, in the seas, and in the subterranean waters (all their depths).
Psalm 135:7 The Lord’s greatness extends to the elements and powers of nature: lightning (see Ps 148:8), rain (see Ps 29), wind (see Ps 104:4), and the storehouses from which any of the elements could be brought forth (see Pss 33:7; 65:10f).
Psalm 135:8 The psalmist indicates the greatness of the Lord’s redemption of Israel through the Exodus and the Conquest by using climactic strokes. Most of the phrases in these verses reappear in Ps 136:10, 18-22.
Psalm 135:8 Struck . . . of Egypt: the tenth plague (see Pss 78:51; 105:36; Ex 12:29).
Psalm 135:9 Into your midst, O Egypt: similar in form to Ps 116:19, this phrase recalls Ps 136:11 (see Ps 78:43).
Psalm 135:11 Sihon . . . Og . . . and all the kings of Canaan: see Ps 136:19f; Num 21:21-26, 33-35; Deut 2:30-33; 3:1-6; Jos 12:2-24.
Psalm 135:12 Recalls Ps 136:17-22.
Psalm 135:13 Extract from Ex 3:15; see Ps 102:12; Isa 63:12. The name God revealed to Moses was to increase in significance as the Lord increased his activities in redemptive history.
Psalm 135:14 Show compassion to his servants: taken from Deut 32:36.
Psalm 135:15 The psalmist reproduces Ps 115:4-6, 8 almost exactly. His point is that idols, unlike the God of Israel, do not speak, reveal, promise, or utter any spoken word. Ultimately, divine revelation is the difference between the religions made by humans and the true religion of the Lord (see Ps 115:4-8; Deut 4:16; Isa 44:9ff; Jer 10:1ff; Bar 6:7ff).
Psalm 135:19 Employing the language of Pss 115:9-11; 118:2-4 (with the addition of “O house of Levi”), the psalmist calls upon all to praise the Lord present in Zion.
Psalm 135:21 Alleluia: i.e., “Hallelujah” or “Bless [or praise] the Lord”; some regard this line as belonging to the beginning of Ps 136.

Ezekiel 37:21-28

²¹say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I will take the Israelites from the nations among which they have been exiled. I will gather them from every side and bring them back to their land.

²²I will unify them into one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. Never again will they be two separate nations, nor will they be divided into two kingdoms. ²³They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their loathsome images or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all of their sins of apostasy that they have committed, and I will cleanse them. Thus, they will be my people, and I will be their God.

²⁴My servant David will be their king, and they all will have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be scrupulous in obeying my statutes. ²⁵They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, the land in which your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and my servant David will be their prince forever.

²⁶I will make a covenant of peace with them, and I will bless and multiply them and establish my sanctuary among them forever. ²⁷I will make my dwelling with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. ²⁸Then the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel when I establish my sanctuary among them forevermore.

1 John 2:18-29

Behold the Antichrist^[a]

¹⁸Dear children,
this is the last hour.
You have heard that the Antichrist was coming,
and now many antichrists have already come.^[b]
Thus, we know
that it is the final hour.
¹⁹They went out from us,
but they never really belonged to us.
If they had belonged to us,
they would have remained with us.
By departing from us,
they made it clear
that none of them belonged to us.
²⁰However, you have been anointed
by the Holy One,^[c]
and you all have knowledge.
²¹I write to you
not because you do not know the truth
but because you do know it,
and because no lie can come from the truth.
²²Who is the liar
but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
The antichrist is
anyone who denies both the Father and the Son.
²³Whoever denies the Son
does not have the Father,
but whoever acknowledges the Son
has the Father also.
²⁴Let what you heard from the beginning
remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning
remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son
and in the Father
²⁵And this is the promise he made to us:
eternal life.
²⁶I write these things to you
in reference to those
who seek to lead you astray.
²⁷But as for you,
the anointing you received from him
remains in you,
and therefore you do not need anyone
to teach you.
This same anointing
teaches you everything
and is true and not false,
so abide in him just as he taught you.
²⁸And now, dear children,
abide in him,
so that when he appears
we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him
at his coming.

Children of God

Everyone Whose Life Is Righteous Has Been Born of God^[d]

²⁹If you know that he is righteous,
you also know that everyone whose life is righteous
is born of him.

Footnotes

1 John 2:18 New teachers have arisen proclaiming a message different from that of the Gospel of Jesus. Is this not a sign that the end is near? The circumstances that Jesus had described in this respect (see Mk 13:22; see also 2 Thes 3:4; Rev 13:12-15) suddenly appear to be present. It is at least a time of crisis. The false teachers refuse to acknowledge either Christ or the Father, and they do away with the Gospel. The author is quick to set these teachers straight: those who do not accept the Gospel are no longer in the Church in spite of all appearances. Believers should cling to the teaching they originally received, i.e., to the great ideas of Christian initiation, for what is at issue is the Word of Jesus. They have been anointed by the Holy One, that is, they are penetrated by the word and the grace of Jesus. Let them not be concerned with new words and new teachings but be alert to await the Lord’s coming.
1 John 2:18 Scripture distinguishes the Antichrist from many antichrists and from the spirit of the Antichrist (1 Jn 4:3). Here John is speaking of all who follow the Antichrist and imitate his evil spirit. He assumes that his readers know that a great enemy of his people will arise before Christ’s return. This enemy is the Antichrist, “the man of lawlessness” (see notes on 2 Thes 2:3b-12 and 2:3b-4) and “the beast” (Rev 13:1-10). But before his coming there will be many antichrists characterized by (1) denial of Christ’s Incarnation (see 1 Jn 4:2; 2 Jn 7) and Divinity (see 1 Jn 2:22); (2) denial of the Father (see 1 Jn 2:22); (3) nonpossession of the Father (see 1 Jn 2:23); (4) falsehoods (see 1 Jn 2:22), deceptions (see 2 Jn 7); (5) many in number (see 1 Jn 2:18); (6) nothing in common with believers (see 1 Jn 2:19).
1 John 2:20 Anointed by the Holy One: reference to the Spirit who has been given to the Messiah (see Isa 11:2; 61:1), and then conferred by the Messiah on believers (see 1 Jn 3:24; 4:13; 2 Cor 1:21) so as to teach them about all things (see 1 Jn 2:27; Jn 16:13f; 1 Cor 2:10, 15). As a result, the words of Jesus are “spirit and life” (Jn 6:63).
1 John 2:29 The author takes ideas already expressed and develops them in new ways. In ch. 1:5-7 he used the phrase “God is light”; now he expresses the new theme that “God is righteous.” God forgives human beings, bestowing upon them a condition in which they can stand before him. Here, too, it is not a question of abstract ideas but of life practices. What a bold affirmation about the Divine Sonship; what a dizzying perspective of a faith that must one day go beyond itself in the full vision of God!

Matthew 10:16-23

¹⁶No Servant Is above His Master.^[a]“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as cunning as serpents and yet as innocent as doves. ¹⁷Be on your guard, for people will hand you over to courts^[b] and scourge you in their synagogues, ¹⁸and you will be brought before governors and kings because of me to testify before them and the Gentiles.

¹⁹“When they hand you over, do not be concerned about how you are to speak or what you are to say. When the time comes, you will be given what you are to say. ²⁰For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. ²²You will be hated by all because of my name, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. ²³When you are persecuted in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not have finished traveling through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.^[c]

New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Prev Day

Top

Next Day

Use the calendar to view readings from this devotional.

Log in to read this devotional and:

Book of Common Prayer

Psalm 131[a]

Childlike Trust in God

Psalm 132[e]

The Divine Promises Made to David

Psalm 133[q]

The Blessings of Brotherly Accord

Psalm 134[v]

Invitation to Night Prayer

Psalm 135[z]

Praise of God, Benefactor of His People

Footnotes

Behold the Antichrist[a]

Children of God

Everyone Whose Life Is Righteous Has Been Born of God[d]

Footnotes

Footnotes

Psalm 131^[a]

Psalm 132^[e]

Psalm 133^[q]

Psalm 134^[v]

Psalm 135^[z]

Behold the Antichrist^[a]

Everyone Whose Life Is Righteous Has Been Born of God^[d]