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. 

Day 255 – Sunday, Feb. 23

Zephaniah Chapters 2-3 and Haggai Chapters 1-2

Read Haggai 1:4-6 again.

These verses suggest that seeking to be comfortable in our own homes, while God’s house lies in ruins, does not bring the fulfillment that we are seeking.

Ask God to help us to find love, and to give love, in God’s house and in our own homes.

What do the words “God’s house” mean to you? Do you see yourself as being part of God’s house?

Day 256 – Monday, Feb. 24

Zechariah Chapters 1-4

Read Zechariah 2:5-9 again (or 2:1-5 NRSV), and then scan over Ezekiel Chapters 40 to 42.

These verses have to do with precisely measuring Jerusalem and the new temple. 

Ask God to give us the mental focus necessary to pay attention to important details.

What balance is there in your view of the “big picture,” that is, the overall goal, and in your view of the details when performing tasks?

Day 257 – Tuesday, Feb. 25

Zechariah Chapters 5-8

Read Zechariah 7:1-6 again.

Fasting helps us to give more of our attention to God, when done correctly. Zechariah 7:5 tells us that we don’t always fast for the purpose of drawing closer to God.

Ask God what sort of fast we can do on a regular basis to help us draw closer to God.

In your prior experiences of fasting from food, do you remember having any spiritually meaningful experiences on any of those days? Do you know of other types of fasts to try?

Day 258 – Wednesday, Feb. 26

Zechariah Chapters 9-11

Read Zechariah 9:9 again, and then read Matthew 21:1-11.

The example of Jesus riding on a donkey, as prophesied in the Book of Zechariah, and as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew, tells us that humility is a characteristic of the greatest king ever.

Ask God to show us how we can grow in humility.

What do you learn from Jesus’ example of humility that you can apply to your own life? 

Day 259 – Thursday, Feb. 27

Zechariah Chapters 12-14

Read Zechariah 12:1 again, and then read Psalm 139.

Ask God to remind us to take time, every day, to appreciate the miracle of life that is enclosed in our bodies and to nourish that life carefully.

Spend five minutes with your eyes closed and think about your body — the visible parts and those inside of you. How does the fact that God created you inspire you to take better care of yourself?

Day 260 – Friday, Feb. 28

Malachi Chapters 1-3

Read Malachi 1:6-9 and 3:7-12 again.

God asks us to give our very best. God also promises to give blessings to us as a reward for doing so.

Ask God to inspire us to celebrate our completion of our reading of the Old Testament in a joyful way and to bless our reading of the New Testament with new insights that will draw us closer to God.

Our journey through the Old Testament has come to an end. What blessings have come to you so far by spending so much time reading and reflecting upon Scripture? What have you learned from this process of reading and reflecting that you can apply to the upcoming reading of the New Testament and to your life in general?

Day 261 – Saturday, Feb. 29

Matthew Chapters 1-2

Into the darkness of the reign of King Herod, the light of Christ was born. As we see in today’s reading, the darkness tried to extinguish the light, but the light, Jesus, was protected by a man named Joseph.

Read the commands that the Lord gave to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-23, 2:13 and 2:19-20 again. Then, read Joseph’s responses to these commands in Matthew 1:24, 2:14 and 2:21 again.

We honour St. Joseph for his ability to hear, and to obey, God’s word. Ask God to bless our reading of the New Testament and to help us to hear the word of God, and to respond to it, as St. Joseph did.

Not only in King Herod’s time but in our own time the darkness around us can feel overwhelming and tempt us to stop trying to make a positive difference. Is there anything about St. Joseph’s example of perseverance that encourages you about something you are struggling with today?