This Weeks Readings
GOD
SPEAKS TO US IN SCRIPTURE READ AND PROCLAIMED.
14th Sunday after
Pentecost
Readings for Sunday,
August 29, 2010
First
Reading -- Old Testament
PROVERBS 25:6-7
The book of Proverbs is known as
wisdom literature. It gave directions to Israel's leaders and people
for the conduct of daily life. Today's reading is about humility.
6Do
not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place
of the great; 7for
it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the
presence of a noble. Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Psalm
PSALM: 112
1Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the LORD and have great delight in God's
commandments!
2Their
descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright
will be blessed.
3Wealth and
riches will be in their house, and their righteousness will last
forever.
4Light shines in
the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of
compassion.
5It is good for
them to be generous in lending and to manage their affairs with justice.
6For they will
never be shaken; the righteous will be kept in everlasting
remembrance.
7They
will not be afraid of any evil rumors; their heart is steadfast,
trusting in the LORD.
8Their heart is
established and will not shrink, until they see their desire upon their
enemies.
9They have given
freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast forever; they
will hold up their head with honor.
10The wicked will
see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and pine
away; the desires of the wicked will perish.
Second
Reading -- New Testament
HEBREWS 13:1-8, 15-16
The conclusion of the letter to
the Hebrews contains many suggestions for the conduct of life, all of
which are shaped by God's love toward us in Jesus Christ.
1Let mutual love
continue. 2Do
not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some
have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember
those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those
who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
4Let
marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept
undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5Keep
your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you
have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."
6So we
can say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper;
I will
not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"
7Remember
your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the
outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
15Through
him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that
is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16Do
not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices
are pleasing to God.
Gospel
LUKE 14:1, 7-14
In Luke's gospel,
Jesus often tells parables about meals in order to illustrate God's
unexpected grace and to lead people to a faithful response. Here we
have two examples of these stories: one encourages humility, and in the
other Jesus invites his listeners to review their guest list.
1On one occasion
when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a
meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7When
he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a
parable. 8"When
you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the
place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been
invited by your host; 9and
the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this
person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the
lowest place. 10But
when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when
your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you
will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
11For
all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted."
12He
said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or
a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives
or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would
be repaid. 13But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and
the blind. 14And
you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Sermon
Pastor Paul
Oman "Contentment and
Faith
FAITH TALK:
I feel most content when. . .
