Daily Readings - Sun Sep 21 2025
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 systems for their own 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 passage challenges us to examine how we treat others, especially the vulnerable, and whether our actions align with justice and compassion.
The second reading from 1 Timothy shifts our focus to prayer and the universal will of God for salvation. Paul emphasizes that prayer should be inclusive, extending to all people, even those in positions of power. This reminds us that our faith is not just about personal piety but about contributing to the common good and the salvation of all. The passage also highlights the uniqueness of Christ as the one mediator between God and humanity, reinforcing the central role of faith in our lives.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a stark teaching about faithfulness and priorities. Jesus warns that our handling of material wealth ("mammon") reveals our true character and determines whether we can be entrusted with greater spiritual responsibilities. He concludes with the famous statement that we cannot serve both God and wealth. Together, these readings call us to live with integrity, to prioritize justice and compassion, and to orient our lives toward God rather than material gain. May we strive to be faithful in small things, pray for all people, and choose to serve God above all else.