25th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings for your Reflection: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

25th Sunday of the Year (C), September 22, 2013

Liturgical readings
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

What the Lord says is this: that we place our trust in Him.



Jesus said to his disciples:


"A rich man had a manager
who was reported to him
        for dissiplating his property.


He summoned him
and said,


'What is this I hear about you?


Give me an account of your service,
for it is about to come to an end.'


The manager thought to himself,


'What shall I do next?
My employer is sure to dismiss me.
I cannot dig ditches.
I am ashamed to go begging.


I have it!


Here is a way to make sure
that people will take me into their homes
when I am let go.'


"So he called in each of his master's debtors,


and said to the first,


'How much do you owe my master?'


The man replied,
'A hundred jars of oil.'


The manager said,
'Take your invoice,
sit down quickly,
and make it fifty.'


Then he said to a second,


'How much do you owe?'


The answer came,
'A hundred measures of wheat.'


and the manager said,
'Take your invoice
and make it eighty.'


"The owner then gave his devious employee
credit for being enterprising!


Why?


Because the worldly take more initiative
than the other-worldly
when it comes to dealing with their own kind".


"What I say to you is this:


Make friends for yourselves
through your use of this world's goods,
so that when they fail you,
a lasting reception will be yours.


If you can trust a man in little things,
you can also trust him in greater.'


If you cannot be trusted with elusive wealth,
who will trust you with lasting?


And if you have not been trustworthy
with someone else's money,
who will give you what is your own?


"No servant can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one
and love the other
or be attentive to the one
and despise the other.


You cannot give yourself to God and money."

Scripture quotes from the readings:
"High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory." (Psalm 113)
"God wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth." (1 Timothy)
"Petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered for all men,
especially for kings and those in authority." (1 Timothy)

24th Sunday of the Year (C): 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Sunday Readings for Your Reflection: for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

24th Sunday of the Year (C), September 15, 2013

Liturgical readings
Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
Psalm 51
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-32 (short form Luke 15:1-10)

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."


I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,


        who has strengthened me,


        that he has made me
          his servant
          and judged me faithful


I was once
        a blasphemer,
        a persecutor,
        a man filled with arrogance;


but


because I did not know
what I was doing in my unbelief


I have been treated
        mercifully,


        and the grace of our Lord
        has been granted me
        in overflowing measure,


        along with the faith
        and love
        which are in Christ Jesus.


You can depend on this
as worthy of full acceptance;


that Christ Jesus
came into the world


to save sinners.


Of these
I myself am the worst.


But


on that very account
I was dealt with mercifully,


so that in me,
as an extreme case,
Jesus Christ might display
        all his patience,


and that I might become


an example


to those who would later
have faith in him
and gain
everlasting life.


To the King of ages,
        the immortal,
        the invisible,
        the only God,


be honor and glory


forever and ever!


Amen.



Scripture verses from the Readings:
"So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people." (Exodus 32)
"A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn." (Psalm 51)
"God has treated Paul mercifully, and the grace of our Lord has been granted him in
overflowing measure." (1 Timothy)

24th Sunday of the Year (C): Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14

Sunday Readings for Your Reflection: for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

24th Sunday of the Year (C), September 15, 2013

Liturgical readings
Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
Psalm 51
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-32 (short form Luke 15:1-10)

"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel."


The Lord said to Moses,


"Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought
        out of the land of Egypt,


for they have become depraved.


They have soon turned aside
from the way
        I pointed out to them,


making for themselves
        a molten calf
        and worshipping it,


        sacrificing to it
        and crying out,


        'This is your God
        O Israel,
        who brought you out
        of the land of Egypt!'


I see how stiff-necked
this people is,"


continued the Lord to Moses.


"Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up
        against them
        to consume them.


Then I will make of you
a great nation."


But Moses implored the Lord, his God,


saying,


"Why, O Lord,
should your wrath blaze up
against your own people,


whom you brought
        out of the land of Egypt


with such great power
and with so strong a hand?


Remember your servants
        Abraham,
        Isaac,
        and Israel,


and how you swore to them
by your own self,


saying,


'I will make your descendants
as numerous as the stars in the sky,


and all this land
that I promised,


I will give your descendants
as their perpetual heritage,'"


So the Lord relented
in the punishment
he had threatened
to inflict on his people.


Scripture quotes from the Sunday readings:
"So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people." (Exodus 32)
"A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn." (Psalm 51)
"God has treated Paul mercifully, and the grace of our Lord has been granted him in overflowing measure." (1 Timothy)