[Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 29, (Proper 17) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.

The readings are posted on our web site: <http://satucket.com/lectionary>, in RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.



OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 2: 4 - 13 (RCL) 

Jere 2:4 (NRSV) Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the LORD: 
What wrong did your ancestors find in me 
that they went far from me, 
and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves? 
6 They did not say, "Where is the LORD 
who brought us up from the land of Egypt, 
who led us in the wilderness, 
in a land of deserts and pits, 
in a land of drought and deep darkness, 
in a land that no one passes through, 
where no one lives?" 
7 I brought you into a plentiful land 
to eat its fruits and its good things. 
But when you entered you defiled my land, 
and made my heritage an abomination. 
8 The priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?" 
Those who handle the law did not know me; 
the rulers transgressed against me; 
the prophets prophesied by Ba'al, 
and went after things that do not profit. 
9 Therefore once more I accuse you, 
qsays the LORD, 
and I accuse your children's children. 
10 Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, 
send to Ke'dar and examine with care; 
see if there has ever been such a thing. 
11 Has a nation changed its gods, 
even though they are no gods? 
But my people have changed their glory 
for something that does not profit. 
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this, 
be shocked, be utterly desolate, 
qsays the LORD, 
13 for my people have committed two evils: 
they have forsaken me, 
the fountain of living water, 
and dug out cisterns for themselves, 
cracked cisterns 
that can hold no water. 


Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 10: 12 - 18 (alt. for RCL) 

Ecclus. 10:12 (NRSV) The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
13 For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,
and destroys them completely.
14 The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,
and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15 The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations, 
and plants the humble in their place.
16 The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.
17 He removes some of them and destroys them,
and erases the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not created for human beings,
or violent anger for those born of women. 


Proverbs 25: 6 - 7 (alt. for RCL) 

Prov 25:6 (NRSV) Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence 
or stand in the place of the great; 
7 for it is better to be told, "Come up here," 
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. 


Ezekiel 18: 1 - 9, 25 - 29   (Can. BAS)

Ezek 18:1 (NRSV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? 3 As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. 
5 If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right- 6 if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period, 7 does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, 8 does not take advance or accrued interest, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between contending parties, 9 follows my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances, acting faithfully-such a one is righteous; he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. 

25 Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 


Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 3: 17 - 18, 20, 28 - 29   (Roman Catholic) 

17 My child, perform your tasks with humility; 
then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. 
20 For great is the might of the Lord;
but by the humble he is glorified.

28 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
for an evil plant has taken root in him.
29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise. 


PSALM 81: 1, 10 - 16 (RCL) 

Psal 81:1 (NRSV) Sing aloud to God our strength; 
shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 

10 I am the LORD your God, 
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 
11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; 
Israel would not submit to me. 
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, 
to follow their own counsels. 
13 O that my people would listen to me, 
that Israel would walk in my ways! 
14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, 
and turn my hand against their foes. 
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, 
and their doom would last forever. 
16 I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, 
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." 


Psalm 112 (alt. for RCL) 

Psal 112:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD! 
Happy are those who fear the LORD, 
who greatly delight in his commandments. 
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; 
the generation of the upright will be blessed. 
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, 
and their righteousness endures forever. 
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; 
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, 
who conduct their affairs with justice. 
6 For the righteous will never be moved; 
they will be remembered forever. 
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; 
their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. 
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; 
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; 
their righteousness endures forever; 
their horn is exalted in honor. 
10 The wicked see it and are angry; 
they gnash their teeth and melt away; 
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing. 


Psalm 15   (Can. BAS)

Psal 15:1 (NRSV) O LORD, who may abide in your tent? 
Who may dwell on your holy hill? 
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, 
and speak the truth from their heart; 
3 who do not slander with their tongue, 
and do no evil to their friends, 
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, 
but who honor those who fear the LORD; 
who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 
5 who do not lend money at interest, 
and do not take a bribe against the innocent. 
Those who do these things shall never be moved. 


Psalm 68: 3 - 6, 9 - 10   (Roman Catholic) 

Psal 68:3 But let the righteous be joyful; 
let them exult before God; 
let them be jubilant with joy. 
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; 
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds -- 
his name is the LORD-- 
be exultant before him. 
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows 
is God in his holy habitation. 
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; 
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, 

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; 
you restored your heritage when it languished; 
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; 
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 

Note: verse numbering in the Roman Catholic Bible is one higher.


NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 13: 1 - 8, 15 - 16 (RCL) 
                              Hebrews 13: 1 - 8 (Can. BAS) 

Hebr 13:1 (NRSV) Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember 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. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Keep 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." 6 So we can say with confidence, 
"The Lord is my helper; 
I will not be afraid. 
What can anyone do to me?" 
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 


Hebrews 12: 18 - 19, 22 - 24a (Roman Catholic) 

Hebr 12:18 (NRSV) You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, 


GOSPEL: Luke 14: 1, 7 - 14 (all) 

Luke 14:1 (NRSV) On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Phar'isees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 

7 When 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; 9 and 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. 10 But 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. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." 
12 He 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. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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