September 25, 2022 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading - Am 6:1.4-7

    Thus says the Lord the God of hosts: “Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment. They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 146 

R –Praise the Lord, my soul!

* Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. R. 

* The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just. The Lord protects strangers. R. 

* The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia! R. 

Second Reading - 1 Tim 6:11-16

    You, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only Ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen!

Gospel Acclamation - 2 Cor 8:9 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 16:19-31

    Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fi ll of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 

    When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off , and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

September 18, 2022 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 

First Reading - Am 8:4-7

    Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! 

    “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fi x our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” 

     The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Never will I forget a thing they have done!”

Responsorial Psalm -Ps 113 

R –Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor!

* Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. R. 

* High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory. Who is like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? R. 

* He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people. R. 

Second Reading - 1 Tim 2:1-8 

    Beloved, first of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. 

    This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. 

     This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle – I am speaking the truth, I am not lying – teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

    It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. 

Gospel Acclamation - 2 Cor 8:9 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 16:1-13

    Jesus said to his disciples: “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ 

     He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another the steward said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ The steward said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ 

    And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. 

     For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

    I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 

     The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? 

     No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

September 11, 2022 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 First Reading - Ex 32:7-11.13-14

    The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshipping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ 

    I see how stiff -necked this people is,” continued the Lord to Moses. “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” 

    But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying, “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? 

    Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’ ” 

    So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 51 

R –I will rise and go to my Father!

* Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my off ense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. R. 

* A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R. 

* O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. R. 

Second Reading - 1 Tim 1:12-17

    Beloved: 

    I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

    This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 

    To the King of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!

Gospel Acclamation - 2 Cor 5:19 

All – Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel Lk 15:1-10

    Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

    So to them he addressed this parable. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!’ 

    I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 

    Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost!’ 

    In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

September 4, 2022 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

 First Reading Wis 9:13-18

    Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty. But when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?     And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 90 

R – In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge!

* You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. R. 

* You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. R. 

* Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. 

* Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R.

Second Reading - Phlm 9-10.12-17

    I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me; but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 

    So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

Gospel Acclamation - Ps 119:135 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Lk 14:25-33

    Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “Whoever comes to me without turning one’s back on one’s father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even one’s own life, he/she cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry one’s own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 

    Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 

    Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 

    In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”