… but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. – 2 Corinthians 3:16

Who are those in your prayer group deemed “mature” enough to be future leaders?
      Those you always see at the meetings?
      Those who report having regular Scripture and prayer times?
      Those who give tithes every month?
      Those who volunteer for regular service?
      Let me tell you about this great girl I know named Lia. She was never chosen to be a leader by her group. You see, her ailing mother prevented her from attending meetings and volunteering for service. She prayed every day and read the Bible too, though sometimes only for two to five minutes, when she had time to squeeze it in. As the sole breadwinner, she tried to tithe regularly but often found she had too little for her family’s needs. I believe she was picked a leader in the eyes of the Lord. She was a leading example of a Christian who persevered in spite of what life dealt her. She didn’t have the visible marks of a life of piety nor did she meet the “standards” set by the group she belonged to. But she met the Lord’s standards without difficulty.
       If we strive to become scribes… working to keep the letter of the Law… we will please the Lord a lot. But if we strive to be more like Lia, then the Lord has lifted the veil and made us reach for something beyond the visible. Victoria L.

REFLECTION:
Are you ready to see beyond the visible?

Help me see that what You desire isn’t always what people dictate it to be. Lead me in the Law of Love.

2 Corinthians 3:15—4:1, 3-6

The revelations of the Old Testament, no matter how glorious they may seem, are always lacking the fullness of the truth of who God is for us; it remains veiled, as if still covered by a shroud, until the person of Jesus takes away the veil and the glory of God is allowed to shine through in all of its brilliance. And yet we are still unable to conceive and perceive it all. The shadow of sin is constantly seeking to blind us to a lesser or greater degree as we seek to be His disciples. Let us first repent in order to be able to see more clearly as we try to respond to His grace in our lives.
  
15 To this day, in fact, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns to the LORD the veil is removed. 17 Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom. 18 All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the LORD who is the Spirit. 4: 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. 3 And even though our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as LORD, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ.

P S A L M

Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he proclaims peace to his people. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

G O S P E L

Matthew 5:20-26

The context of Jesus’ challenge to allow our virtue to grow deeper is that of the Last Judgment. We will all be called to give an account of our lives. There is nothing that we have done in the dark that will not be brought out into the light. It is clear that we must take seriously the call to holiness and see that we are responding to it daily. This is what living a life of virtue requires.
 
20 “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his  brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

my reflections
think: We will all be called to give an account of our lives.

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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 Proverbs 9-12