Daily Readings - Sun Sep 18 2022
Amos
4Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,5saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales,6buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.7The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: "I will never forget anything they have done.
1 Timothy
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,6who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
Luke
10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?13"No servant can serve two masters. 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 both 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.