Each day read the Gospel passage
for the day and the Psalm passage for the day (you can read them all at once or
do one reading in the morning and one in the evening) and use the reflection
questions to help process the passage.
Each day read the Gospel passage
for the day and the Psalm passage for the day (you can read them all at once or
do one reading in the morning and one in the evening) and use the reflection
questions to help process the passage.
The 8th day of Lent
Thursday February 18
Gospel Reading
The Parable of the Sower
8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
of God
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town
after town, he told this parable: 5“A farmer
went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the
path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered
because they had no moisture. 7Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a
crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears
to hear, let them hear.”
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God
“ ‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not
understand.’
11“This is the meaning of the parable: The
seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the
devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not
believe and be saved. 13Those on the
rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they
have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall
away. 14The seed that fell among
thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked
by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and
good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
A Lamp on a Stand
16“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts
it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can
see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and
nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Those who have
will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they think they
have will be taken from them.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to
get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, “Your mother
and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who
hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go
over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set
out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the
lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to
drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided,
and all was calm. 25“Where is your faith?”
he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands
even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee . 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was
met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not
worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When
he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his
voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you,
don’t torture me!” 29For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come
out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand
and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by
the demon into solitary places.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And
they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged
Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33When
the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed
down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and
reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out
to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom
the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind;
and they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how
the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then all the people of the
region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome
with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus
sent him away, saying, 39“Return home and
tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all
over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting
him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at
Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42because his
only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a
woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one
could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his
cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and
pressing against you.”
46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that
power has gone out from me.”
47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and
fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had
touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to
her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in
peace.”
49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the
synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher
anymore.”
50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be
afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with
him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52Meanwhile,
all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop
wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but
asleep.”
53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took
her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her
spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her
something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them
not to tell anyone what had happened.
The Holy Bible : Today's New International Version.
2005. Grand Rapids , MI
Reflection
Questions:
- Read the Parable of the sower (8:1-15). What is the important lesson from here concerning the word of God? How do you respond to God’s word?
- In the next three stories(vs. 22-25; 26-39; 40-56) Jesus faces some extreme situations. Make a list of why each situation is difficult.
- How does Jesus deal with each?
- What does this tell us about Jesus? What are the storms in your life that you need Jesus to help you with?
Psalm Reading
1Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the
foe,
3those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could
settle.
5They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind,
9for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to
help.
13Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14He brought them out of darkness, the utter
darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind,
16for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
17Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their
iniquities.
18They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind.
22Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26They mounted up to the heavens and went down to
the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind.
32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the
elders.
33He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who
lived there.
35He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could
settle.
37They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38he blessed them, and their numbers greatly
increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
39Then their numbers decreased, and they were
humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43Let all who are wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
Reflection
Questions:
- Make a list of every extreme problem the Lord rescues the people from in this Psalm.
- What is the proper response to a Lord that can rescue us?
- Take some time to thank Jesus in prayer for how he has rescued you.
The Parable of the Sower
8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
of God
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town
after town, he told this parable: 5“A farmer
went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the
path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered
because they had no moisture. 7Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a
crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears
to hear, let them hear.”
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God
“ ‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not
understand.’
11“This is the meaning of the parable: The
seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the
devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not
believe and be saved. 13Those on the
rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they
have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall
away. 14The seed that fell among
thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked
by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and
good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
A Lamp on a Stand
16“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts
it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can
see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and
nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Those who have
will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they think they
have will be taken from them.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to
get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, “Your mother
and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who
hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go
over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set
out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the
lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to
drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided,
and all was calm. 25“Where is your faith?”
he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands
even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee . 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was
met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not
worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When
he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his
voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you,
don’t torture me!” 29For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come
out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand
and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by
the demon into solitary places.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And
they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged
Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33When
the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed
down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and
reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out
to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom
the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind;
and they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how
the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then all the people of the
region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome
with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus
sent him away, saying, 39“Return home and
tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all
over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting
him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at
Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42because his
only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a
woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one
could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his
cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and
pressing against you.”
46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that
power has gone out from me.”
47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and
fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had
touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to
her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in
peace.”
49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the
synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher
anymore.”
50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be
afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with
him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52Meanwhile,
all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop
wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but
asleep.”
53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took
her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her
spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her
something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them
not to tell anyone what had happened.
The Holy Bible : Today's New International Version.
2005. Grand Rapids , MI
Reflection
Questions:
- Read the Parable of the sower (8:1-15). What is the important lesson from here concerning the word of God? How do you respond to God’s word?
- In the next three stories(vs. 22-25; 26-39; 40-56) Jesus faces some extreme situations. Make a list of why each situation is difficult.
- How does Jesus deal with each?
- What does this tell us about Jesus? What are the storms in your life that you need Jesus to help you with?
Psalm Reading
1Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the
foe,
3those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could
settle.
5They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind,
9for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to
help.
13Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14He brought them out of darkness, the utter
darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind,
16for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
17Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their
iniquities.
18They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind.
22Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26They mounted up to the heavens and went down to
the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for humankind.
32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the
elders.
33He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who
lived there.
35He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could
settle.
37They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38he blessed them, and their numbers greatly
increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
39Then their numbers decreased, and they were
humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43Let all who are wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
Reflection
Questions:
- Make a list of every extreme problem the Lord rescues the people from in this Psalm.
- What is the proper response to a Lord that can rescue us?
- Take some time to thank Jesus in prayer for how he has rescued you.
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