We must humbly, patiently, and faithfully accept God’s plan and diligently do our part to fulfill it. He will help us. Worship helps us along the way (readings for Oct. 6, 2019; Lectionary 141)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God & His ways

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1  Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 

How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen!
I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene.
Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord.

Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God, andwe are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice: "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works."

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2  2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 

I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.  So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Alleluia  1 Peter 1:25 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever. This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 17:5-10  

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?  Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?  Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?  So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

What these scriptures tell us about God & His ways

the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint

it will surely come, it will not be late 

the just one, because of his faith, shall live

the Rock of our salvation
the LORD who made us
he is our God

we are the people he shepherds

the flock he guides.

God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control

the strength that comes from God.
the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus

the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us

The word of the Lord remains forever. 

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?  

What these scriptures tell us to do
if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late

just

faith

hear his voice, harden not your hearts
sing joyfully to the LORD

acclaim the Rock of our salvation
come into his presence with thanksgiving

joyfully sing psalms to him.
hear his voice, harden not your hearts
bow down in worship

kneel before the LORD 

hear his voice, harden not your hearts
hear his voice

Harden not your hearts 

hear his voice, harden not your hearts

stir into flame the gift of God that you have 

love

self-control

bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God
Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus

Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit 

When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’

What these scriptures tell us not to do
The rash one has no integrity

tempted me

tested me 

cowardice

ashamed of your testimony to our Lord

Additional scriptures dealing with the themes in today’s readings are collected at:

Wisdom Principles: Diligence & Working

Wisdom Principles--Fortitude

Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth It

Wisdom Principles—God Loves Humility and Hates Pride   

God calls us to reject self-indulgence & to follow His example of actively helping the hurting. (Readings for Sept. 29, 2019; Lectionary 138)

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 Amos 6:1, 4-7  

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment. They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 147:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
Blessed he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

Reading 2 1 Timothy 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith.  Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were calledwhen you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see.  To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

Alleluia  2 Corinthians 8:9 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 16:19-31  

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. 

The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.  Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

What these scriptures tell us about God

they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind

the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just

the LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains

the way of the wicked he thwarts
The LORD shall reign forever

your God, O Zion, through all generations

God, who gives life to all things

Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession

the King of kings and Lord of lords
who dwells in unapproachable light

To him be honor and eternal power

Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them

If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,  neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead

What these scriptures tell us to do

Praise the Lord
Blessed he who keeps faith forever

secures justice for the oppressed

gives food to the hungry

Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord

pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness

Compete well for the faith

Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called 

keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ 

They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them

listen to Moses and the prophets

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Woe to the complacent 

they devise their own accompaniment

They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!

Additional scriptures dealing with the principles underlying today’s readings are collected at Wisdom Principles: Caring For the Weak & Vulnerableand Wisdom Principles--Rely on God Rather than Material Wealth  

The Church gives us direction on how we can help the hurting. Check out these materials on Corporal Works of Mercyand the Spiritual Works of Mercy. 

God puts people and relationships before profit; He wants us to do the same. (Readings for Sept. 22, 2019) (Lectionary: 135)

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  Amos 8:4-7  

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! "When will the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!" The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:  Never will I forget a thing they have done!

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8  

R. (cf. 1a, 7b) Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

Reading 2  1 Timothy 2:1-8 

Beloved:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle— I am speaking the truth, I am not lying —teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Alleluia 2 Corinthians 8:9 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 16:1-13  

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.  He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you?  Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.'

The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?  I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.  I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note.  Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

"For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.  I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.  If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?  If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

No servant can serve two masters.  He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and mammon."

What these scriptures tell us about God:

The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:  Never will I forget a thing they have done!

Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
High above all nations is the LORD

above the heavens is his glory.
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
He raises up the lowly from the dust

from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth

there is one God

There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. 

Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

No servant can serve two masters

You cannot serve both God and mammon

What these scriptures tell us to do:

Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
praise the name of the LORD.
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority

in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth

trustworthy in very small matters 

trustworthy in great ones

trustworthy with what belongs to another

What these scriptures tell us not to do:

trample upon the needy and destroy the poor 

diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating

We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell

dishonest wealth

the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones

You cannot serve both God and mammon

Commentary:

Additional scriptures addressing these principles are collected at:

Wisdom Principles—Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth

Wisdom Principles: Caring for the Weak & Vulnerable

Wisdom Principles--Ill Gotten Gains Do Not Last

Praying for Leaders: Why, How & About What  

The omnipotent God of the universe humbly, mercifully, reaches out to ALL folks. We should follow His example. (readings for Sept. 21, 2019) (Lectionary: 643)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

Reading 1 EPH 4:1-7, 11-13

I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:2-3, 4-5

R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia See Te Deum       

R. Alleluia, alleluia.We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me."And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

What these scriptures tell us about God:

one Lord, one faith, one baptism 

one God and Father of all

who is over all and through all and in all
grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift

The heavens declare the glory of God

the firmament proclaims his handiwork
Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me."

your teacher eat[s] with tax collectors and sinners
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners

What these scriptures tell us to do:

live in a manner worthy of the call you have received

with all humility and gentleness

with patience

bearing with one another through love

striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

We praise you, O God

we acclaim you as Lord

Follow me