Daily Readings - Sun Sep 22 2019
Amos
4Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end,5saying, "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances,6that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?"7The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: "Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
1 Timothy
1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.7For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Luke
10"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?12And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
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.