Daily Readings - Sun Sep 18 2022
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 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.