01/29/24

First Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31

 21Have you not known? Have you not heard?

  Has it not been told you from the beginning?

  Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

 22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,

  and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

 who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

  and spreads them like a tent to live in;

 23who brings princes to naught,

  and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

  scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,

 when he blows upon them, and they wither,

  and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

 25To whom then will you compare me,

  or who is my equal? says the Holy One.

 26Lift up your eyes on high and see:

  Who created these?

 He who brings out their host and numbers them,

  calling them all by name;

 because he is great in strength,

  mighty in power,

  not one is missing.

 27Why do you say, O Jacob,

  and speak, O Israel,

 “My way is hidden from the Lord,

  and my right is disregarded by my God”?

 28Have you not known? Have you not heard?

 The Lord is the everlasting God,

  the Creator of the ends of the earth.

 He does not faint or grow weary;

  his understanding is unsearchable.

 29He gives power to the faint,

  and strengthens the powerless.

 30Even youths will faint and be weary,

  and the young will fall exhausted;

 31but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

  they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

 they shall run and not be weary,

  they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm: Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

1Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God!

 How pleasant it is to honor God with praise!

2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem,

 and gathers the exiles of Israel.

3The Lord heals the brokenhearted

 and binds up their wounds.

4The Lord counts the number of the stars

 and calls them all by their names. 

5Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

 there is no limit to God’s wisdom.

6The Lord lifts up the lowly,

 but casts the wicked to the ground.

7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

 make music upon the harp to our God,

8who covers the heavens with clouds

 and prepares rain for the earth, making grass to grow upon the mountains. 

9God provides food for the cattle

 and for the young ravens when they cry.

10God is not impressed by the might of a horse,

 and has no pleasure in the speed of a runner,

11but finds pleasure in those who fear the Lord,

 in those who await God’s steadfast love. 

20c Hallelujah! 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

 19For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Gospel:Mark 1:29-39

29As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

 32That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

 35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

01/22/2024

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

[Moses said:] 15The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” 17Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. 19Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”

Psalm: Psalm 111

1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

2Great are your works, O Lord, pondered by all who delight in them.

3Majesty and splendor mark your deeds, and your righteousness endures forever.

4You cause your wonders to be remembered; you are gracious and full of compassion. 

5You give food to those who fear you, remembering forever your covenant.

6You have shown your people the power of your works in giving them the lands of the nations.

7The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice; all of your precepts are sure.

8They stand fast forever and ever, because they are done in truth and equity. 

9You sent redemption to your people and commanded your covenant forever;

 holy and awesome is your name.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice this have a good understanding. God’s praise endures forever. 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3but anyone who loves God is known by him. 4Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Gospel:Mark 1:21-28

21[Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

01/15/2024

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

1The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Psalm: Psalm 62:5-12

5For God alone I wait in silence;

 truly, my hope is in God.

6God alone is my rock and my salvation,

 my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.

7In God is my deliverance and my honor;

 God is my strong rock and my refuge.

8Put your trust in God always, O people,

 pour out your hearts before the one who is our refuge. 

9Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath; those of low estate cannot be trusted.

 Placed on the scales together they weigh even less than a breath.

10Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride;

 though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

11God has spoken once, twice have I heard it,

 that power belongs to God.

12Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord,

 for you repay all according to their deeds. 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

29Brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Gospel:Mark 1:14-20

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

1/8/2024

First Reading: Genesis 1:1-5

1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Psalm: Psalm 29

 1Ascribe to the Lord, you gods,

  ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

 2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name;

  worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

 3The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;

  the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

 4The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;

  the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor. 

 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees;

  the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

 6the Lord makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

  and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

 7The voice of the Lord

  bursts forth in lightning flashes.

 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

  the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

 9The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare.

  And in the temple of the Lord all are crying, “Glory!”

 10The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;

  the Lord sits enthroned as king forevermore.

 11O Lord, give strength to your people;

  give them, O Lord, the blessings of peace. 

Second Reading: Acts 19:1-7

1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— 7altogether there were about twelve of them.

Gospel:Mark 1:4-11

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

12/04/23

First Reading: Mark 1:1-4 

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

 "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

 who will prepare your way;

 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

 'Prepare the way of the Lord,

 make his paths straight,'"

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Gospel:Isaiah 40:1-11

1Comfort, O comfort my people,

 says your God.

 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

 and cry to her

 that she has served her term,

 that her penalty is paid,

 that she has received from the LORD's hand

 double for all her sins.

 3A voice cries out:

 "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,

 make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 4Every valley shall be lifted up,

 and every mountain and hill be made low;

 the uneven ground shall become level,

 and the rough places a plain.

 5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

 and all people shall see it together,

 for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 6A voice says, "Cry out!"

 And I said, "What shall I cry?"

 All people are grass,

 their constancy is like the flower of the field.

 7The grass withers, the flower fades,

 when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;

 surely the people are grass.

 8The grass withers, the flower fades;

 but the word of our God will stand forever.

 9Get you up to a high mountain,

 O Zion, herald of good tidings;

 lift up your voice with strength,

 O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,

 lift it up, do not fear;

 say to the cities of Judah,

 "Here is your God!"

 10See, the Lord GOD comes with might,

 and his arm rules for him;

 his reward is with him,

 and his recompense before him.

 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

 he will gather the lambs in his arms,

 and carry them in his bosom,

 and gently lead the mother sheep.

11/27/23

First Reading:   Jeremiah 33:14-18 

14The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

17For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18and the levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to make grain offerings, and to make sacrifices for all time.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-29

27Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."

11/20/23

First Reading:   Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

11Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

 20Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

 23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

Psalm: Psalm 95:1-7a

 1Come, let us sing to the Lord;

  let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.

 2Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving

  and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms.

 3For you, Lord, are a great God,

  and a great ruler above all gods.

 4In your hand are the caverns of the earth;

  the heights of the hills are also yours. 

 5The sea is yours, for you made it,

  and your hands have molded the dry land.

 6Come, let us worship and bow down,

  let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

 7aFor the Lord is our God,

  and we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand. 

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward 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.

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

11/13/23

First Reading:   Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18

7Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.

12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people

who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.” 13Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them;

though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.

14The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. 15That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.

17I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind;

because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Psalm: Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12

 1Lord, you have been our refuge

  from one generation to another.

 2Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born,

  from age to age you are God.

 3You turn us back to the dust and say,

  “Turn back, O children of earth.”

 4For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past

  and like a watch in the night; 

 5you sweep them away like a dream,

  they fade away suddenly like the grass:

 6in the morning it is green and flourishes;

  in the evening it is dried up and withered.

 7For we are consumed by your anger;

  we are afraid because of your wrath.

 8Our iniquities you have set before you,

  and our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 

[ 9When you are angry, all our days are gone;

  we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

 10The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty;

  yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone.

 11Who regards the power of your wrath?

  Who rightly fears your indignation?] 

 12So teach us to number our days

  that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 14“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

11/06/23

First Reading:   Amos 5:18-24

 18Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!

  Why do you want the day of the Lord?

 It is darkness, not light;

  19as if someone fled from a lion,

  and was met by a bear;

 or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,

  and was bitten by a snake.

 20Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,

  and gloom with no brightness in it?

 21I hate, I despise your festivals,

  and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

 22Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

  I will not accept them;

 and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

  I will not look upon.

 23Take away from me the noise of your songs;

  I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

 24But let justice roll down like waters,

  and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Psalm: Psalm 70

 1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me;

  O Lord, make haste to help me.

 2Let those who seek my life be put to shame and confounded;

  let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced. 

 3Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me

  turn back because of their shame.

 4Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;

  let those who love your salvation say forever, “Great is the Lord!”

 5But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me quickly, O God.

  You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

[Jesus said to the disciples:]1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’9But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

10/30/23

First Reading:   Revelation 7:9-17

9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Psalm: Psalm 34:1-10, 22

1I will bless the Lord at all times;

 the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.

2I will glory in the Lord;

 let the lowly hear and rejoice. 

3Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord;

  let us exalt God’s name together.

4I sought the Lord, who answered me

 and delivered me from all my terrors.

5Look upon the Lord and be radiant,

 and let not your faces be ashamed.

6I called in my affliction, and the Lord heard me

 and saved me from all my troubles. 

7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord

 and delivers them.

8Taste and see that the Lord is good;

 happy are they who take refuge in God!

9Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord,

 for those who fear the Lord lack nothing.

10The lions are in want and suffer hunger,

 but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.

22O Lord, you redeem the life of your servants,

 and those who put their trust in you will not be punished. 

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

1See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

10/23/23

First Reading:   Jeremiah 31:31-34

31The 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.

Psalm: Psalm 46

 1God is our refuge and strength,
  a very present help in trouble.
 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
  and though the mountains shake in the depths of the sea;
 3though its waters rage and foam,
  and though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
  the holy habitation of the Most High.
 5God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be shaken;
  God shall help it at the break of day.
 6The nations rage, and the kingdoms shake;
  God speaks, and the earth melts away.
 7The Lord of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
 8Come now, regard the works of the Lord,
  what desolations God has brought upon the earth;
 9behold the one who makes war to cease in all the world;
  who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
 10“Be still, then, and know that I am God;
  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
 11The Lord of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

Second Reading: Romans 3:19-28

19Now 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.
  21But now, apart from 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.
  27Then 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.

Gospel: John 8: 31-36

31Jesus 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’?”
  34Jesus 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 forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

10/16/23

Reading 1:Isaiah 45:1-7

 1Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

  whose right hand I have grasped

 to subdue nations before him

  and strip kings of their robes,

 to open doors before him—

  and the gates shall not be closed:

 2I will go before you

  and level the mountains,

 I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

  and cut through the bars of iron,

 3I will give you the treasures of darkness

  and riches hidden in secret places,

 so that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

  the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

 4For the sake of my servant Jacob,

  and Israel my chosen,

 I call you by your name,

  I surname you, though you do not know me.

 5I am the Lord, and there is no other;

  besides me there is no god.

  I arm you, though you do not know me,

 6so that they may know, from the rising of the sun

  and from the west, that there is no one besides me;

  I am the Lord, and there is no other.

 7I form light and create darkness,

  I make weal and create woe;

  I the Lord do all these things.

Psalm:Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13]

 1Sing to the Lord| a new song;

  sing to the Lord, | all the earth.

 2Sing to the Lord, bless the name | of the Lord;

  proclaim God’s salvation from | day to day.

 3Declare God’s glory a- | mong the nations

  and God’s wonders a- | mong all peoples.

 4For great is the Lord and greatly | to be praised,

  more to be feared | than all gods. R

 5As for all the gods of the nations, they | are but idols;

  but you, O Lord, have | made the heavens.

 6Majesty and magnificence are | in your presence;

  power and splendor are in your | sanctuary.

 7Ascribe to the Lord, you families | of the peoples,

  ascribe to the Lord hon- | or and power.

 8Ascribe to the Lord the honor due the | holy name;

  bring offerings and enter the courts | of the Lord. R

 9Worship the Lord in the beau- | ty of holiness;

  tremble before the Lord, | all the earth.

[ 10Tell it out among the nations: “The | Lord is king!

  The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge the peo- | ples with equity.”

 11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the | earth be glad;

  let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that | is therein.

 12Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your com- | ing, O Lord,

  for you come to | judge the earth.

 13You will judge the | world with righteousness

  and the peoples | with your truth. R]

Second Reading:1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

  To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

  Grace to you and peace.

 2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Gospel:Matthew 22:15-22

15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

10.2.23

Reading 1:Isaiah 5:1-7

 1Let me sing for my beloved

  my love-song concerning his vineyard:

 My beloved had a vineyard

  on a very fertile hill.

 2He dug it and cleared it of stones,

  and planted it with choice vines;

 he built a watchtower in the midst of it,

  and hewed out a wine vat in it;

 he expected it to yield grapes,

  but it yielded wild grapes.

 3And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem

  and people of Judah,

 judge between me

  and my vineyard.

 4What more was there to do for my vineyard

  that I have not done in it?

 When I expected it to yield grapes,

  why did it yield wild grapes?

 5And now I will tell you

  what I will do to my vineyard.

 I will remove its hedge,

  and it shall be devoured;

 I will break down its wall,

  and it shall be trampled down.

 6I will make it a waste;

  it shall not be pruned or hoed,

  and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns;

 I will also command the clouds

  that they rain no rain upon it.

 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts

  is the house of Israel,

 and the people of Judah

  are his pleasant planting;

 he expected justice,

  but saw bloodshed;

 righteousness,

  but heard a cry!

Psalm:Psalm 80:7-15

7Restore us, O God of hosts;

  let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved.

8You have brought a vine out of Egypt;

  you cast out the nations and planted it.

9You cleared the ground for it;

  it took root and filled the land.

10The mountains were covered by its shadow

  and the towering cedar trees by its boughs. 

11You stretched out its tendrils to the sea

  and its branches to the river.

12Why have you broken down its wall,

  so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?

13The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it,

  and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.

14Turn now, O God of hosts,

  look down from heaven;

15behold and tend this vine;

  preserve what your right hand has planted. 

Second Reading:Philippians 3:4b-14

[Paul writes:] 4bIf anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46

[Jesus said to the people:] 33“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”

 42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

 ‘The stone that the builders rejected

  has become the cornerstone;

 this was the Lord’s doing,

  and it is amazing in our eyes’?

43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”

 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

09/25/23

Reading 1:Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

1The word of the Lord came to me: 2What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.

 25Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

 30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Psalm: Psalm 25:1-9

1To you, O Lord,

 I lift up my soul.

2My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,

 nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3Let none who look to you be put to shame;

 rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.

4Show me your ways, O Lord,

 and teach me your paths. 

5Lead me in your truth and teach me,

 for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.

6Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,

 for they are from everlasting.

7Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;

 remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.

8You are gracious and upright, O Lord;

 therefore you teach sinners in your way.

9You lead the lowly in justice

 and teach the lowly your way. 

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-13

1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

 6who, though he was in the form of God,

  did not regard equality with God

  as something to be exploited,

 7but emptied himself,

  taking the form of a slave,

  being born in human likeness.

 And being found in human form,

  8he humbled himself

  and became obedient to the point of death—

  even death on a cross.

 9Therefore God also highly exalted him

  and gave him the name

  that is above every name,

 10so that at the name of Jesus

  every knee should bend,

  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 11and every tongue should confess

  that Jesus Christ is Lord,

  to the glory of God the Father.

 12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

23When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

 28“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”

09/18/23

Reading 1:Jonah 3:10--4:11

10When God saw what [the people of Ninevah] did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

 4:1But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. 3And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.

 6The Lord God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. 7But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

 9But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” 10Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

Psalm:Psalm 145:1-8

1I will exalt you, my God and king,

 and bless your name forever and ever.

2Every day will I bless you

 and praise your name forever and ever.

3Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

 There is no end to your greatness.

4One generation shall praise your works to another

 and shall declare your power. 

5I will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty

 and all your marvelous works.

6They shall tell of the might of your wondrous acts,

 and I will recount your greatness.

7They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;

 they shall sing joyfully of your righteousness.

8The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,

 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

Second Reading:Philippians 1:21-30

21For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

 27Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—30since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

[Jesus said to the disciples:]1“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;4and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

9/11/23

Reading 1:Genesis 50:15-21

15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Psalm:Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13

[1Bless the Lord, O my soul,

 and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.

2Bless the Lord, O my soul,

 and forget not all God’s benefits—

3who forgives all your sins

 and heals all your diseases;

4who redeems your life from the grave

 and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; 

5who satisfies your desires with good things

 so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

6O Lord, you provide vindication

 and justice for all who are oppressed.

7You made known your ways to Moses

 and your works to the children of Israel.]  

8Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy,

 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love;

9you will not always accuse us,

 nor will you keep your anger forever.

10You have not dealt with us according to our sins,

 nor repaid us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heavens are high above the earth,

 so great is your steadfast love for those who fear you.

12As far as the east is from the west,

 so far have you removed our transgressions from us.

13As a father has compassion for his children,

 so you have compassion for those who fear you, O Lord. 

Second Reading: Romans 14:1-12

1Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

 5Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

 7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

 10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written,

 “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

  and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

21Peter came and said to [Jesus], “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

 23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

08/28/2023

Reading 1:Jeremiah 15:15-21

 15O Lord, you know;

  remember me and visit me,

  and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.

 In your forbearance do not take me away;

  know that on your account I suffer insult.

 16Your words were found, and I ate them,

  and your words became to me a joy

  and the delight of my heart;

 for I am called by your name,

  O Lord, God of hosts.

 17I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,

  nor did I rejoice;

 under the weight of your hand I sat alone,

  for you had filled me with indignation.

 18Why is my pain unceasing,

  my wound incurable,

  refusing to be healed?

 Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,

  like waters that fail.

 19Therefore thus says the Lord:

 If you turn back, I will take you back,

  and you shall stand before me.

 If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

  you shall serve as my mouth.

 It is they who will turn to you,

  not you who will turn to them.

 20And I will make you to this people

  a fortified wall of bronze;

 they will fight against you,

  but they shall not prevail over you,

 for I am with you

  to save you and deliver you,

says the Lord.

 21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

  and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless

Psalm:Psalm 26:1-8

 1Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity;

  I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

 2Test me, O Lord, and try me;

  examine my heart and my mind.

 3For your steadfast love is before my eyes;

  I have walked faithfully with you.

 4I have not sat with the worthless,

  nor do I consort with the deceitful. 

 5I have hated the company of evildoers;

  I will not sit down with the wicked.

 6I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord,

  that I may go in procession round your altar,

 7singing aloud a song of thanksgiving

  and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

 8Lord, I love the house in which you dwell

  and the place where your glory abides. 

Second Reading: Romans 12:9-21

9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28

21From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

 24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

 27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

08/21/2023

Reading 1:Isaiah 51:1-6

 1Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,

  you that seek the Lord.

 Look to the rock from which you were hewn,

  and to the quarry from which you were dug.

 2Look to Abraham your father

  and to Sarah who bore you;

 for he was but one when I called him,

  but I blessed him and made him many.

 3For the Lord will comfort Zion;

  he will comfort all her waste places,

 and will make her wilderness like Eden,

  her desert like the garden of the Lord;

 joy and gladness will be found in her,

  thanksgiving and the voice of song.

 4Listen to me, my people,

  and give heed to me, my nation;

 for a teaching will go out from me,

  and my justice for a light to the peoples.

 5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,

  my salvation has gone out

  and my arms will rule the peoples;

 the coastlands wait for me,

  and for my arm they hope.

 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

  and look at the earth beneath;

 for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

  the earth will wear out like a garment,

  and those who live on it will die like gnats;

 but my salvation will be forever,

  and my deliverance will never be ended.

Psalm:Psalm 138

1I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart;

 before the gods I will sing your praise.

2I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness; for you have glorified your name and your word above all things.

3When I called, you answered me;

 you increased my strength within me.

4All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O Lord,

 when they have heard the words of your mouth. 

5They will sing of the ways of the Lord,

 that great is the glory of the Lord.

6The Lord is high, yet cares for the lowly,

 perceiving the haughty from afar.

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe;

 you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.

8You will make good your purpose for me;

O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands. 

Second Reading: Romans 12:1-8

1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

08/14/2023

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

 1Thus says the Lord:
  Maintain justice, and do what is right,
 for soon my salvation will come,
  and my deliverance be revealed.

 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
  to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
  and to be his servants,
 all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
  and hold fast my covenant—
 7these I will bring to my holy mountain,
  and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
 their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
  will be accepted on my altar;
 for my house shall be called a house of prayer
  for all peoples.
 8Thus says the Lord God,
  who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
 I will gather others to them
  besides those already gathered.

Psalm 67

 1May God be merciful to us and bless us;

  may the light of God’s face shine upon us.

 2Let your way be known upon earth,

  your saving health among all nations.

 3Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

 4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

  for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations on earth. 

 5Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

 6The earth has brought forth its increase;

  God, our own God, has blessed us.

 7May God give us blessing,

  and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe.

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

[Paul writes:] 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2aGod has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

[10[Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand:11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”]
 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

7/24/2023

Reading 1: 1 Kings 3:5-12

5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
 10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

Psalm: Psalm 119:129-136

 129Your decrees are wonderful;
  therefore I obey them with all my heart.
 130When your word is opened it gives light;
  it gives understanding to the simple.
 131I open my mouth and pant
  because I long for your commandments.
 132Turn to me and be gracious to me,
  as you always do to those who love your name.
 133Order my footsteps in your word;
  let no iniquity have dominion over me.
 134Rescue me from those who oppress me,
  and I will keep your commandments.
 135Let your face shine upon your servant
  and teach me your statutes.
 136My eyes shed streams of tears,
  because people do not keep your teaching.

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-39

26The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
 28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written,
 “For your sake we are being killed all day long;
  we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

31[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
 33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
 44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 51“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”