Daily Readings - Sun Sep 21 2025
Amos
4Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?6That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?7The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
1 Timothy
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Luke
10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall 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 else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye 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 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.