Psalm 146 (NRSV)
Justice to the oppressed
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)
God is rich in mercy
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
God is rich in mercy
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
2 Corinthians 8:8-15 (NRSV)
Christ became poor
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
Christ became poor
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Luke 20:45-21:4 (NRSV)
The rich versus the poor
In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
The rich versus the poor
In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
9/25/2007
Proverbs 17:1-5 (NRSV)
Oppressing the poor
Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Oppressing the poor
Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Monday, September 24, 2007
9/24/2007
Proverbs 14:12-31 (NRSV)
Oppressing the poor
There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.
Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief.
The perverse get what their ways deserve,
and the good, what their deeds deserve.
The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.
The simple are adorned with folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
Do they not err that plan evil?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their wisdom,
but folly is the garland of fools.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and one's children will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.
The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
without people a prince is ruined.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but passion makes the bones rot.
who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
Oppressing the poor
There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.
Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief.
The perverse get what their ways deserve,
and the good, what their deeds deserve.
The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.
The simple are adorned with folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
Do they not err that plan evil?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their wisdom,
but folly is the garland of fools.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and one's children will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.
The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
without people a prince is ruined.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but passion makes the bones rot.
who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
9/23/2007
Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 25
Luke 16:1-13 (NRSV)
Serving God or wealth
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a
manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was
squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What
is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your
management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then
the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is
taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I
am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am
dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So,
summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How
much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive
oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.'
Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A
hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it
eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he
had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in
dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell
you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that
when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is
dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not
been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true
riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for
a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Luke 16:1-13 (NRSV)
Serving God or wealth
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a
manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was
squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What
is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your
management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then
the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is
taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I
am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am
dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So,
summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How
much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive
oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.'
Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A
hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it
eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he
had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in
dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell
you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that
when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is
dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not
been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true
riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for
a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
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