Daily Readings - Sun Sep 18 2022

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 the relationship between faith, justice, and stewardship. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a powerful indictment of those who exploit the poor and manipulate economic systems for their own gain. Amos condemns the dishonest scales and the greed that leads people to prioritize profit over justice. This passage reminds us that God sees all injustices and will hold us accountable for how we treat the vulnerable. The context of Amos’ prophecy is a society that has forgotten its covenant with God, where the pursuit of wealth has overshadowed the call to live with integrity and compassion. The second reading from 1 Timothy shifts our focus to the universal nature of salvation. Paul emphasizes that God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He urges us to pray for everyone, especially those in positions of power, so that we might live peaceful and godly lives. This reading reminds us that our faith is not just about personal salvation but also about contributing to the common good. It calls us to be people of prayer, interceding for others and trusting in God’s plan to bring all people to himself. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of faithfulness in small things and the danger of serving two masters. He warns that we cannot serve both God and wealth. This passage challenges us to examine how we use the resources entrusted to us. Are we faithful stewards of what belongs to God, or are we consumed by a desire for more? The readings together remind us that our relationship with money and material possessions is a spiritual issue. We are called to live with integrity, to seek justice, and to trust in God’s providence rather than in wealth. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do I use the resources I have? Do I prioritize justice and compassion, or am I tempted by greed and exploitation? Let us pray for the grace to live simply, to trust in God, and to serve him alone. May we be faithful in small things, knowing that our actions have eternal consequences.