Daily Readings - Sun Sep 22 2019

⁴Hear this, you who crush the poor and who make those in need of land to do without⁵You say, "When will the first day of the month be over, so we can sell our wares, and the sabbath, so we can open the grain: in order that we may decrease the measure, and increase the price, and substitute deceitful scales⁶in order that we may possess the destitute with money, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and may sell even the refuse of the grain?⁷The Lord has sworn by the arrogance of Jacob: I will not forget, even to the end, all their works

1 Timothy

Chapter 2

¹And so I beg you, first of all, to make supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for all men²for kings, and for all who are in high places, so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and chastity³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior⁴who wants all men to be saved and to arrive at an acknowledgment of the truth⁵For there is one God, and one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus⁶who gave himself as a redemption for all, as a testimony in its proper time⁷Of this testimony, I have been appointed a preacher and an Apostle, (I speak the truth, I do not lie) as a teacher of the Gentiles, in faith and in truth

Luke

Chapter 16

¹⁰Whoever is faithful in what is least, is also faithful in what is greater. And whoever is unjust in what is small, is also unjust in what is greater¹¹So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true¹²And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours¹³No servant is able to serve two lords. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on faithfulness, justice, and the ultimate priority of our lives. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a powerful indictment of those who exploit the poor and manipulate economic systems for their gain. Amos condemns the greed and dishonesty of those who cheat others, even in small ways, and reminds us that God sees all and will not forget such injustices. This prophet’s words challenge us to examine how we treat others, especially the vulnerable, in our daily interactions and business dealings. The second reading from 1 Timothy shifts our focus to prayer and the universal will of God for salvation. Paul emphasizes that our prayers should extend to all people, even those in positions of power, so that we might live peaceful and holy lives. This reminds us that our faith is not just about personal piety but also about interceding for others and trusting in God’s plan to bring all people to truth. Christ, as the one mediator between God and humanity, is the ultimate expression of this plan. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about faithfulness in small things and the impossibility of serving both God and money. He warns that our handling of material wealth reveals our true priorities and trustworthiness. If we are not faithful with what belongs to others, how can we expect to be entrusted with true spiritual riches? This teaching calls us to reevaluate our relationship with money and possessions, ensuring that they do not distract us from our ultimate allegiance to God. These readings together remind us that our faith must be lived out in concrete ways. Amos calls us to justice and integrity in our dealings with others, while 1 Timothy encourages us to pray for all people, trusting in God’s universal plan. Luke’s Gospel challenges us to examine our priorities, ensuring that our hearts are not divided between God and material wealth. Let us strive to live lives marked by faithfulness, justice, and a single-minded devotion to God.