Readings for September 25, 2016 Year C Proper 21 (26)

First Reading and Psalm

  • Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
  • Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

Second Reading

  • 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Gospel

  • Luke 16:19-31

Alternative First Reading and Psalm

  • Amos 6:1a, 4-7
  • Psalm 146

Full lections can be read here.

Based on the Readings as Set

Because of his refusal to be a “good news” prophet Jeremiah finds himself under house arrest as Jerusalem is fatally besieged by Babylon’s armies. Understanding that this is the end of the world as he knows it, he may have been inclined to resist the word of the LORD that he purchase soon to be worthless property in his home town. After doing so, however, he is assured that he has made an excellent long-term investment because YAHWEH will restore prosperity to the land. The Psalmist assures us that those who take refuge in YAHWEH will experience the wonderful richness of his salvation. St. Paul warns Timothy that the priority of pursuing wealth leads to spiritual ruin, while the pursuit of righteousness will end in the “life that really is life” when Jesus Christ is finally made manifest. In the Gospel Jesus vividly illustrates this same truth through his story of the rich man and Lazarus. In so doing he teaches that riches can so blind us to spiritual realities that even someone sent from beyond the grave cannot get our attention!

Based on the Alternative Readings

Amos decries the rich who are “at ease in Zion” even as the nation disintegrates around them. Instead of grieving over the coming disaster they are blinded by their enjoyment of material wealth. They will therefore be the first to go into exile and oblivion. The Psalmist would agree: the way of the wicked will come to ruin. But he adds that God will bless the faithful, first with the hope of his reign and then with its realization.

 

Readings for September 18, 2016 Year C Proper 20 (25)

First Reading and Psalm

  • Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
  • Psalm 79:1-9

Second Reading

  • 1 Timothy  2:1-7

Gospel

  • Luke 16:1-13

Alternative First Reading and Psalm

  • Amos 8:4-7
  • Psalm 113

Full lections can be read here.

 

Based on the Readings as Set

Jeremiah is overwhelmed by the disaster that is coming down upon the nation of Judah, a disaster brought on by YAHWEH himself because of persistent covenant unfaithfulness. The prophet identifies strongly with the suffering of the people even while reminding them of their culpability. The Psalmist finds himself in similar circumstances with the nation suffering a devastating defeat at the hand of the nations. He, too, recognizes a justly angry YAHWEH behind the ruination but pleads for God’s help and forgiveness “for the glory of your name”. St. Paul’s sense of urgency originates with God’s desire that everyone be “saved” (from sin’s “ruin and destruction” [5:9]) on the basis of the ransom provided by the mediator himself, Jesus Christ. The parable in the Gospel also underscores the need to act appropriately and urgently in the light of coming judgment, especially in the use of material things for the kingdom. We need to extremely shrewd in such matters because they have the power to master us and turn us from our true Master.

Based on the Alternative Readings

Amos champions the cause of the poor and needy in Israel who are the victims of those who have sold out to material gain. Such people simply cannot wait for the religious observances to be finished so that they can get back to their exploitive practices. YAHWEH sees and will not forget whom they serve and what they have done. The Psalmist exults in the God who indeed sees from on high but who also acts to save the downtrodden.

 

Readings for Year C Proper 19 (24) (September 11, 2016)

First Reading and Psalm

  • Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
  • Psalm 14

Alternate First Reading and Psalm

  • Exodus 32:7-14
  • Psalm 51:1-10

Second Reading

  • 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Gospel

  • Luke 15:1-10

Full lections can be read here

Based on the Readings as Set

Jeremiah records Yahweh’s lament that he finds his people so “skilled in doing evil” that a terrible judgment is inevitable. The prophet has a vision of the resulting devastation but also notes Yahweh’s promise that “I will not make a full end”. Grace shines through. The Psalmist makes a similar observation regarding the sin of humanity and predicts a similar result. At the same time he affirms that “God is with the company of the righteous.” Grace shines through. St. Paul is amazed that grace has overflowed even to him, the foremost of sinners. Grace shines through. Finally, the circle is complete as Jesus focuses not on the depth of human sin but on the intense joy of heaven at the repentance of a single sinner! Grace shines through.

Based on the Alternative Readings

In the face of all the ugliness of Israel’s sin in the very shadow of the Almighty at Sinai, grace shines through. Moses intervenes and persuades Yahweh to change his mind and not destroy the nation then and there. The Psalmist admits that he is a born sinner but knows that God can create a clean heart within him. Grace shines through.

 

Readings for Year C Proper 18 (23) (September 4, 2016)

First reading and Psalm

  • Jeremiah 18:1-11
  • Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

Alternate First reading and Psalm

  • Deuteronomy 30:15-20
  • Psalm 1

Second reading

  • Philemon 1:1-21

Gospel

  • Luke 14:25-33

Full lections can be read at: http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

Based on the readings as set

Perhaps the most urgent connection this week is the idea that God has an absolute claim upon us. Jeremiah uses the stark image of the potter in perfect command of his clay to make this perfectly clear. The psalmist makes the same point but deepens by noting that God’s creature is more properly seen as the human being in all his or her amazing intricacy: not just clay but an actual reflection of the exalted Creator. Paul sends the slave Onesimus back to his master Philemon but appeals to him on the basis of the prior claim of Christ to treat him as a brother and perhaps even to set him free. If some of these images seem extreme, Jesus, ups the ante by insisting that true allegiance to him demands that our natural attachment to our own family is to be considered “hatred” in comparison.

Based on the alternative readings

Both the Deuteronomy passage and the Psalm make the additional but critical point that acknowledging God’s absolute claim upon us is not merely to bow to his superiority but to take the first step toward the abundant life for which we were created in the first place. There is nothing arbitrary about the laws of God.