Word Wide Open: The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - 10/2/22

First Reading (Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4)

A reading from the Book of Habakkuk.

How long, O LORD?  I cry for help

 but you do not listen!

 I cry out to you, "Violence!"

 but you do not intervene.

 Why do you let me see ruin;

 why must I look at misery?

 Destruction and violence are before me;

 there is strife, and clamorous discord.

 Then the LORD answered me and said:

 Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,

 so that one can read it readily.

 For the vision still has its time,

 presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;

 if it delays, wait for it,

 it will surely come, it will not be late.

 The rash one has no integrity;

 but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why does God allow us to experience suffering?

Second Reading (2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy. 

Beloved:

I remind you, to stir into flame

the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice

but rather of power and love and self-control. 

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;

but bear your share of hardship for the gospel

with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,

in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit

that dwells within us.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why are people afraid to share their faith? What is the hardship we bear for the gospel?

Gospel (Luke 17:5-10)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 

The Lord replied,

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant

who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,

'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? 

Would he not rather say to him,

'Prepare something for me to eat.

Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.

You may eat and drink when I am finished'? 

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? 

So should it be with you.

When you have done all you have been commanded,

say, 'We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How can we increase our faith? What is the command we are called to follow? 

Word Wide Open: The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - 9/25/22

First Reading (Amos 6:1a, 4-7)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos.

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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is complacency so harmful to our faith? 

Second Reading (Philemon 9-10, 12-17)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (6:11-16)

But 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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is it so easy to let our faith not be a high priority? 

Gospel (Luke 16:19-31)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

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 fill 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.'"

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What does the rich man do wrong and what is he worried about his brothers? Why do material things pull us away from God? 

Word Wide Open: The Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - 9/18/22

First Reading (Amos 8:4-7)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos.

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 fix 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!

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is serving the poor so important? How is God closer to the poor?

Second Reading (Philemon 9-10, 12-17)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is praying for others so important? 

Gospel (Luke 16:1-13)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

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."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How can we be better stewards of what God has given us? In what ways do we serve two masters?

Word Wide Open: The Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - 9/11/22

First Reading (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14)

A reading from the Book of Wisdom.

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 worshiping 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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What are the false gods we worship? Does God punish us?

Second Reading (Philemon 9-10, 12-17)

A reading from the First Letter to St. Timothy. (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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What is the ministry we are called to? How can we be more merciful to others?

Gospel (Luke 15:1-32)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

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.”

Then he said, 

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,

‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

So the father divided the property between them. 

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings

and set off to a distant country

where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 

When he had freely spent everything,

a severe famine struck that country,

and he found himself in dire need. 

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens

who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,

but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought,

‘How many of my father’s hired workers

have more than enough food to eat,

but here am I, dying from hunger. 

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 

I no longer deserve to be called your son;

treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father. 

While he was still a long way off,

his father caught sight of him,

and was filled with compassion. 

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 

His son said to him,

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants,

‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;

put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. 

Then let us celebrate with a feast,

because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;

he was lost, and has been found.’

Then the celebration began. 

Now the older son had been out in the field

and, on his way back, as he neared the house,

he heard the sound of music and dancing. 

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 

The servant said to him,

‘Your brother has returned

and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf

because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry,

and when he refused to enter the house,

his father came out and pleaded with him. 

He said to his father in reply,

‘Look, all these years I served you

and not once did I disobey your orders;

yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns,

who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,

for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him,

‘My son, you are here with me always;

everything I have is yours. 

But now we must celebrate and rejoice,

because your brother was dead and has come to life again;

he was lost and has been found.’”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How do we turn away from the father in our daily lives? How are we like the older son? How can we return to the father?