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July 18, 2024
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Photo courtesy Divine Renovation Ministry
Here are the Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week. Note that the readings are based on the New American Bible.
Deuteronomy Chapters 5-8
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 again. Then, read Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark 12:28-31.
At first glance, it looks like Jesus added the second commandment to love our neighbours as ourselves. However, read Deuteronomy 10:17-19. God told the Israelites that the alien, orphan and widow were neighbours who needed special care.
Ask God to help us become aware of the needs of our neighbours and to give us opportunities to be a source of God’s blessing in their lives.
Who are the “neighbours” in your life — at home, at work or at school? Is there a particular neighbour who needs to receive God’s care from you today?
Deuteronomy Chapters 9-12
God promised to bless the Israelites if they kept God’s commandments in the new land that they were about to enter.
Ask God to help us to be blessed and to be a blessing to others, in any new “land” that we enter.
Are you about to enter a new “land,” for example, a new job, a new school, a new home or a new day? Which one of God’s commandments do you need to pay attention to so that you can bring along a blessing to others?
Deuteronomy Chapters 13-16
Read Deuteronomy 16:14 again.
It is easy to think that the Old Testament (also known as the Hebrew Scriptures) portrays God as being only concerned about rules and regulations. Sometimes, you have to look carefully in the readings to see little treasures of joy as in Deuteronomy 16:14, where God encouraged the people to celebrate.
Ask God to open our eyes as we read the Bible, and as we go through our days, to see the treasures along the way.
How about in your own life? Do you focus so hard on doing your work or on your current troubles that you miss out on some of the lighter moments?
Deuteronomy Chapters 17-19
Read Deuteronomy 17:6-7 and 19:15-21 again.
Do you think that the testimony of two or three witnesses is always more reliable than the testimony of only one witness? For some ideas, read about the unjust accusation against a woman named Susanna in the Book of Daniel 13:1-64 (Daniel 13 does not appear in all Bible versions).
Ask God to help protect all who have been unjustly accused and to motivate all witnesses to take their responsibility and power over other lives seriously.
Are you in a position to testify for or against someone at a trial or in some other situation? Have you asked God to give you the right words for your testimony?
Deuteronomy Chapters 20-22
Read Deuteronomy 22:1-4 again.
In Deuteronomy Chapter 21, we see that the Israelites were required to become involved with problems in the community, even when they were not directly affected by them. Untraced murders, rebellious sons and even their neighbours’ lost articles were the responsibility of the entire community.
Ask God to put it into our hearts to be concerned about the communities in which we live, and to show our concern appropriately, as God guides us.
How well do you know your neighbours and other people in your life? Which ones could use your help?
Deuteronomy Chapters 23-24
Read Deuteronomy 24:6, 24:10-15, and 24:17-22 again.
Ask God to help lawmakers and law enforcers to give, and to receive, compassion and respect in carrying out their duties.
In these verses, what do you notice about how God showed concern for the poor? Are the laws in your society, and their enforcement, based on such concern? How can you get involved to improve laws?
Deuteronomy Chapters 25-28
Deuteronomy 28:13 shows us that God intends for us to be leaders — “the head” and not “the tail” — when we walk according to God’s commandments. (See also Deuteronomy 28:44-45).
Ask God if this is the right time in your life to take on some new position of responsibility, for example, in government, on a school board or in a faith community.
What does today’s reading tell you about the most important qualifications for being a good leader? Why do you think it is important for people who obey God to seek positions of leadership?
A version of this story appeared in the July 14, 2024, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Love your neighbours, for they all are in need of special care".
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