|
 |
2009-2010
Weekly Scripture Readings
July 25, 2010 – 9th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
20Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and
Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21I must go down and see whether
they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me;
and if not, I will know.’ 22 So the men turned from there, and went
towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23Then
Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous
with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city;
will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty
righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to
slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the
wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do
what is just?’ 26And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous
in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ 27Abraham
answered, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but
dust and ashes. 28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will
you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not
destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ 29Again he spoke to him,
‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of forty I
will not do it.’ 30Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I
speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not do it,
if I find thirty there.’ 31He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak
to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake
of twenty I will not destroy it.’ 32Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the
Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’
He answered, ‘For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’
Second Reading: Colossians 2:6-19
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live
your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the
faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty
deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits
of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole
fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have come to fullness in him,
who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11In him also you were
circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of
the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12when you were buried with him
in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of
God, who raised him from the dead. 13And when you were dead in
trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive
together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14erasing the
record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside,
nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and
made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 Therefore
do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of
observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. 17These are only a shadow
of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Do not let
anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of
angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of
thinking, 19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body,
nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a
growth that is from God.
Holy Gospel: Luke 11:1-13
11He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of
his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his
disciples.’ 2He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be
your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And
forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’ 5 And he said to them,
‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say
to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6for a friend of mine
has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” 7And he answers from
within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my
children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” 8I
tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because
he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and
give him whatever he needs. 9 ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be
given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be
opened for you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who
searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will
give a snake instead of a fish? 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will
give a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
August 1, 2010 – 10th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
2Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is
vanity. 12 I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13applied
my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under
heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to
be busy with. 14I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and
see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.18 I hated all my toil in
which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those
who come after me 19—and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish?
Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom
under the sun. This also is vanity. 20So I turned and gave my heart up
to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21because
sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must
leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is
vanity and a great evil. 22What do mortals get from all the toil and
strain with which they toil under the sun? 23For all their days are full
of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not
rest. This also is vanity.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on
things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is
your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6On
account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are
disobedient. 7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were
living that life. 8But now you must get rid of all such things—anger,
wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9Do not
lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with
its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is
being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11In
that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all
and in all!
Holy Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide
the family inheritance with me.’ 14But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set
me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15And he said to them, ‘Take
care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does
not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ 16Then he told them a
parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17And he thought
to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?”
18Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I
will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years;
relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20But God said to him, “You fool! This
very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have
prepared, whose will they be?” 21So it is with those who store up
treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’
August 8, 2010 – 11th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
15After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do
not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very
great.’ 2But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I
continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’
3And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in
my house is to be my heir.’ 4But the word of the Lord came to him, ‘This
man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your
heir.’ 5He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count
the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So
shall your descendants be.’ 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord
reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
11Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By
faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so
that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 8 By faith
Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was
going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised,
as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were
heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city
that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he
received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah
herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants
were born, ‘as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains
of sand by the seashore.’ 13 All of these died in faith without having
received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them.
They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,
14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left
behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they
desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Holy Gospel: Luke 12:32-40
32 ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give
alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing
treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 ‘Be
dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are
waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that
they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell
you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will
come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or
near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 ‘But know
this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was
coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must
be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’
August 15, 2010 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29
23 Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? 24Who can
hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not
fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. 25I have heard what the prophets
have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have
dreamed!’ 26How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn
back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own
heart? 27They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that
they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal.
28Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who
has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with
wheat? says the Lord. 29Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and
like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:29–12:2
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry
land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30By
faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven
days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were
disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what
more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak,
Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33who through
faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut
the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign
armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others
were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better
resurrection. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains
and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two,
they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and
goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not
worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes
in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their
faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided
something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.
12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the
sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding
its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of
God.
Holy Gospel: Luke 12:49-56
49 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already
kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I
am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring
peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on,
five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against
three; 53they will be divided: father against son and son against
father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against
mother-in-law.’ 54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud
rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so
it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There
will be scorching heat”; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how
to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know
how to interpret the present time?
August 22, 2010 – 13th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14
9Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help,
and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the
speaking of evil, 10if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the
needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and
your gloom be like the noonday. 11The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose
waters never fail. 12Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall
raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the
repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. 13If you
refrain from trampling the Sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on
my holy day; if you call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the
Lord honorable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, serving your
own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; 14then you shall take
delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the
earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Second Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29
18 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire,
and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet,
and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be
spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given,
‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’
21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with
fear.’) 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal
gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in
heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous
made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the
sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See
that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not
escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less
will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26At that
time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more
I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ 27This phrase ‘Yet
once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created
things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we
are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by
which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;
29for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Holy Gospel: Luke 13:1-17
13At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He
asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this
way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you;
but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those
eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you
think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in
Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish
just as they did.’ 6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found
none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have
come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it
down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let it
alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9If
it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it
down.” ’ 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled
her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand
up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman,
you are set free from your ailment.’ 13When he laid his hands on her,
immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14But the
leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the
Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work
ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the
Sabbath day.’ 15But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites!
Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the
manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16And ought not this woman, a
daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set
free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?’ 17When he said this, all his
opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all
the wonderful things that he was doing.
August 29, 2010 – 14th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Proverbs 25:6-7
6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the
place of the great; 7for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’, than
to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
Second Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
13Let mutual love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without
knowing it. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in
prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves
were being tortured. 4Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the
marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and
adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content
with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake
you.’ 6So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not
be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ 7 Remember your leaders, those who
spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life,
and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and for ever. 15Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice
of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16Do
not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices
are pleasing to God.
Holy Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
14On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the
Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told
them a parable. 8‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more
distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who
invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your
place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.
10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that
when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then
you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with
you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who
humble themselves will be exalted.’ 12 He said also to the one who had
invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case
they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you
give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will
be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
September 5, 2010 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and
adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am
commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways,
and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall
live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the
land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away
and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and
serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall
not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and
possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so
that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the Lord your God,
obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and
length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to
give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Second Reading: Philemon 1-21
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon
our dear friend and co-worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our
fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 When I remember
you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5because I hear of your love
for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that
the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the
good that we may do for Christ. 7I have indeed received much joy and
encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been
refreshed through you, my brother. 8 For this reason, though I am bold
enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9yet I would rather
appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man,
and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10I am appealing to you for
my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to
you and to me. 12I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
13I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in
your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14but I preferred to
do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be
voluntary and not something forced. 15Perhaps this is the reason he was
separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for
ever, 16no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved
brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and
in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you
would welcome me. 18If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you
anything, charge that to my account. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my
own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your
own self. 20Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord!
Refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I am writing
to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Holy Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to
them, 26‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife
and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be
my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be
my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not
first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to
complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able
to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, “This
fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” 31Or what king, going
out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and
consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who
comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the
other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of
peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not
give up all your possessions.
September 12, 2010 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Exodus 32:7-14
7 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you
brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8they have
been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have
cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and
sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought
you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’ 9The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have
seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10Now let me alone, so that
my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I
will make a great nation.’ 11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and
said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom
you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty
hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he
brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from
the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind
and do not bring disaster on your people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and
Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to
them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and
all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and
they shall inherit it for ever.” ’ 14And the Lord changed his mind about
the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me,
because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13even
though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.
But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and
the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are
in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the
foremost. 16But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as
the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me
an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour
and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
15Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to
him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This
fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ 3 So he told them this
parable: 4‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of
them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the
one that is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on
his shoulders and rejoices. 6And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have
found my sheep that was lost.” 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more
joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous people who need no repentance. 8 ‘Or what woman having ten
silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the
house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9When she has found it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me,
for I have found the coin that I had lost.” 10Just so, I tell you, there
is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.’
September 19, 2010 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Amos 8:4-7
4Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of
the land, 5saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell
grain; and the Sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will
make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with
false balances, 6buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of
sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’ 7The Lord has sworn by
the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
2 1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, 2for kings
and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is right and is
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires everyone to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus,
himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all —this was attested at
the right time. 7For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am
telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith
and truth.
Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1-13
16Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a
manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering
his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I
hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you
cannot be my manager any longer.” 3Then the manager said to himself,
“What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4I have decided
what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome
me into their homes.” 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he
asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” 6He answered, “A
hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down
quickly, and make it fifty.” 7Then he asked another, “And how much do
you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him,
“Take your bill and make it eighty.” 8And his master commended the
dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of
this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are
the children of light. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by
means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you
into the eternal homes. 10 ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is
faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is
dishonest also in much. 11If then you have not been faithful with the
dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you
have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you
what is your own? 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will
either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’
September 26, 2010 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4-7
6Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure
on Mount Samaria, the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the
house of Israel resorts! 4Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and
lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from
the stall; 5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David
improvise on instruments of music; 6who drink wine from bowls, and
anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the
ruin of Joseph! 7Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,
and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19
6Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;
7for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out
of it; 8but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by
many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and
destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and
in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun
all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance,
gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the
eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the presence of God,
who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony
before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep
the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will bring about at the right time—he who
is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
16It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light,
whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal
dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command
them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of
riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous,
and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a
good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life
that really is life.
Holy Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
19 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and
who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger
with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and
lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels
to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades,
where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with
Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child,
remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and
Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and
you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm
has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you
cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then,
father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five
brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into
this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the
prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham;
but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said
to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
October 3, 2010 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
1The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.
2O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry
to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? 3Why do you make me see
wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise. 4So the law becomes slack and justice never
prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes
forth perverted. 2I will stand at my watch-post, and station myself on
the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what
he will answer concerning my complaint. 2Then the Lord answered me and
said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may
read it. 3For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks
of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will
surely come, it will not delay. 4Look at the proud! Their spirit is not
right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of
the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved
child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord. 3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as
my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and
day. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled
with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first
in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure,
lives in you. 6For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God
that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7for God did not
give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love
and of self-discipline.
8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his
prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the
power of God, 9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This
grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10but it
has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,
who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel. 11For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle
and a teacher, 12and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not
ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure
that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.
13Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in
the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good treasure
entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
Holy Gospel: Luke 17:5-10
5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ 6The Lord
replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to
this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would
obey you. 7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in
from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and
take your place at the table”? 8Would you not rather say to him,
“Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and
drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9Do you thank the slave for doing
what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were
ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we
ought to have done!” ’
October 10, 2010 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
5Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and
in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory
to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2Now
the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from
the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her
mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He
would cure him of his leprosy.’ 7When the king of Israel read the
letter, he tore his clothes and said, ‘Am I God, to give death or life,
that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look
and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.’ 8 But when Elisha
the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he
sent a message to the king, ‘Why have you torn your clothes? Let him
come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.’ 9So
Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of
Elisha’s house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go, wash in
the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall
be clean.’ 11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, ‘I thought
that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of
the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the
leprosy! 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?’
He turned and went away in a rage. 13But his servants approached and
said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something
difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said
to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’ 14So he went down and immersed
himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of
God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was
clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he
came and stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in
all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your
servant.’
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of
David—that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point
of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.
10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they
may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal
glory. 11The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live
with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him,
he will also deny us; 13if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he
cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God
that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only
ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God
as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly
explaining the word of truth.
Holy Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between
Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached
him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master,
have mercy on us!’ 14When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show
yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean.
15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,
praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet
and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not
ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them
found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19Then he
said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
October 17, 2010 – 21st Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Genesis 32:22-31
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and
his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them
and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him
on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled
with him. 26Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But
Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27So he said
to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28Then the man said,
‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven
with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ 29Then Jacob asked him,
‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my
name?’ And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel,
saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is
preserved.’ 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because
of his hip.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it, 15and how from childhood you have
known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is
useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient,
equipped for every good work. 4In the presence of God and of Christ
Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his
appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2proclaim the message;
be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince,
rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3For the
time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but
having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to
suit their own desires, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander away to myths. 5As for you, always be sober, endure
suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
Holy Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
18Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not
to lose heart. 2He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who
neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a
widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my
opponent.” 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself,
“Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because
this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may
not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ 6And the Lord said, ‘Listen to
what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his
chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping
them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
October 24, 2009 – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
7Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your
name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against
you. 8O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be
like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the
night? 9Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior
who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we
are called by your name; do not forsake us! 10Thus says the LORD
concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not
restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them, now he
will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. 19Have you
completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you
struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace,
but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
20We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you. 21Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your
covenant with us. 22Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the
heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on
you, for it is you who do all this.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time
of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is reserved for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have
longed for his appearing. 16 At my first defense no one came to my
support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17But
the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the
message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So
I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from
every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10‘Two men went up to
the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The
Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that
I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like
this tax-collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my
income.” 13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look
up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful
to me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified
rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but
all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
October 31, 2010 – Reformation Sunday
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not
be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them
by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they
broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on
their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No
longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the
Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the
greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember
their sin no more.
Second Reading: Romans 3:19-28
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are
under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world
may be held accountable to God. 20For ‘no human being will be justified
in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes
the knowledge of sin.21 But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness
of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,
22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a
gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put
forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through
faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine
forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was
to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he
justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of
boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the
law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart
from works prescribed by the law.
Holy Gospel: John 8:31-36
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue
in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.’ 33They answered him, ‘We are
descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you
mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’ 34 Jesus answered them, ‘Very
truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The
slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a
place there for ever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free
indeed.
November 7, 2010 – All Saints’ Sunday
First Reading: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
7In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and
visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: 2I,
Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up
the great sea, 3and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different
from one another. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within
me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 16I approached one of the
attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he
would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: 17‘As for these
four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18But the
holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the
kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.’
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23
11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined
according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to
his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope
on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also,
when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and
had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy
Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as
God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. 15 I have heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for
this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in
my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to
know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may
know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of
his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the
immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the
working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when
he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but
also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and
has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Holy Gospel: Luke 6:20-31
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are
poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21‘Blessed are you who are hungry
now, for you will be filled. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will
laugh. 22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude
you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice
on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven;
for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24‘But woe to you
who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25‘Woe to you who
are full now, for you will be hungry. ‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep. 26 ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 27 ‘But I
say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If
anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone
who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to
everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not
ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
November 14, 2010 – 25th Sunday after Pentecost
First Reading: Malachi 4:1-2a
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and
all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up,
says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor
branch. 2But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall
rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves
from the stall.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to
the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how
you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we
did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and
labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.
9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give
you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you
this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear
that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any
work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ
to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and
sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Holy Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with
beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6‘As for these
things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left
upon another; all will be thrown down.’ 7 They asked him, ‘Teacher, when
will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take
place?’ 8And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will
come in my name and say, “I am he!”and, “The time is near!” Do not go
after them. 9 ‘When you hear of wars and insurrections do not be
terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not
follow immediately.’ 10Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes,
and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful
portents and great signs from heaven. 12 ‘But before all this occurs,
they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to
synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and
governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to
testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents
will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by
parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some
of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But
not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain
your souls.
November 21, 2010 – Christ the King Sunday
First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
23Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!
says the Lord. 2Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,
concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have
scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended
to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.
3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands
where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and
they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over
them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be
dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. 5 The days are surely
coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous
Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute
justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be
called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20
11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his
glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with
patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled
you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has
rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the
kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on
earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him
and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things
hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have
first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace
through the blood of his cross.
Holy Gospel: Luke 23:33-43
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified
Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[
34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they
are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the
people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He
saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his
chosen one!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him
sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save
yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King
of the Jews.’ 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept
deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and
us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since
you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have
been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,
but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43He replied, ‘Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.’
|
|
