Humbly seek God, especially when distressed. He is loving, just, merciful, and faithful. (Readings for Oct. 27, 2019, Lectionary 150)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1  Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 

The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.

Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.

The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.

The one who serves God willingly is heard, his petition reaches the heavens.

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23  

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Reading 2  2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 

I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia  2 Corinthians 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 

"Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.  The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

What these scriptures tell us about God

The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.
not unduly partial toward the weak

he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.

The one who serves God willingly is heard, his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds

the Lord will not delay.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers

When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

the Lord stood by me and gave me strength

I was rescued from the lion's mouth

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ

whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted

What these scriptures tell us to do

serves God willingly 

bless the LORD at all times

praise shall be ever in my mouth

Let my soul glory in the LORD

cry out

takes refuge in him.

competed well

finished the race

kept the faith

longed for his appearance

prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

humbles himself 

What these scriptures tell us not to do

convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 

exalts himself 

Additional scriptures addressing the principles underlying today’s readings are collected at:

Wisdom Principles—Confessing Sin

Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin

Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

Wisdom Principles—God Loves Humility and Hates Pride  

God is faithful to give us what we need; we must persistently seek Him through prayer & time in scripture (Readings for Oct. 20, 2019; Lectionary 147)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1  Exodus 17:8-13  

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.  I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.

As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses' hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 

R.(cf. 2)  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you: indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reading 2 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 

Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by Godand is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Alleluia Hebrews 4:12  

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 18:1-8  

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.  He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.  And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'

For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'"

The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?  Will he be slow to answer them?  I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.  But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

What these scriptures tell us about God

Our help is from the Lord

who made heaven and earth
My help is from the LORD

who made heaven and earth
Our help is from the Lord

who made heaven and earth
he neither slumbers nor sleeps

the guardian of Israel
Our help is from the Lord

who made heaven and earth
The LORD is your guardian

he LORD is your shade

he is beside you at your right hand
Our help is from the Lord

who made heaven and earth
The LORD will guard you from all evil

he will guard your life
The LORD will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever
Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth

the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus

All Scripture is inspired by God

and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness

one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work
God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead

his kingly power

The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?  

he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily

What these scriptures tell us to do

kept his hands raised up

I lift up my eyes 

Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed

proclaim the word

be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient

convince

reprimand

encourage through all patience and teaching

pray always without becoming weary  

call out to him day and night

What these scriptures tell us not to do

let his hands rest

God is accessible to/will bless all people of all backgrounds, He can overcome anything, but we must seek Him out & do what He says. (readings for Oct. 13, 2019, Lectionary 144)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Commentary

Reading 1 2 Kings 5:14-17 

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God.  His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.  On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant."

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;" and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.  Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, forI will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD."

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands: break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Reading 2 2 Timothy 2:8-13 

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.

This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we perseverewe shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Alleluia 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 17:11-19  

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samariaand Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. 

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"  Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

What these scriptures tell us about God:

there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. 

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
he has done wondrous deeds

his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
his kindness and his faithfulness

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

the word of God is not chained. 

If we have died with him we shall also live with him

if we persevere we shall also reign with him

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through SamariaAs they were going they were cleansed

He was a Samaritan.

your faith has saved you

What these scriptures tell us to do:

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God

I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD
Sing to the LORD 
Sing joyfully to the LORD

break into song; sing praise

bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen

died with him 

persevere

raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!”

Go show yourselves to the priests

one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him

What these scriptures tell us not to do:

offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD

deny him 

are unfaithful 

Commentary:

1.   Jesus/God can 0vercome all things, even the most severe and seemingly irremediable things. We see that in His curing leprosery, and doing so without regard to hardened cultural differences.

2.   Jesus is accessible to all, He blesses all, without regard to cultural/ethnic/national differences. That dynamic is also illustrated in the incident the first reading is drawn from, 2 Kings 5:1-19, and is expressly referenced in today’s psalm.

3.  God blesses without regard to social status. That is illustrated by comparing the first reading to the Gospel. In the first reading He cures a very high-status person. In the gospel He cures the lowest of the low in the social structure He was operating in.

4.   We must come to Him for His blessing, seek him out.

5.    We must affirmatively act upon Jesus’ directions to receive His blessings. 

6.   We usually have to take that action in faith that the blessing will occur before it occurs. That dynamic is also illustrated in the incident the first reading is drawn from. See 2 Kings 5:1-19. 

7.    Today’s second reading illustrates the dynamic that the blessings that come from acting on God’s direction may take a while to manifest itself and may flow to third parties.

8.   Today’s gospel illustrates how God sometimes uses ordinary liturgical practices/spiritual disciplines to bring about extraordinary results. See Luke 2:22-29, 51-51. 

9.  We should thank God for His blessings. That is reinforced in today’s first reading, psalm, and gospel.