[Propertalk] READINGS for the FIFTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 
(Proper 21), Sept. 25,  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. Throughout 
Pentecost the alternate RCL Psalm would normally be used with the alternate 
RCL O. T. reading. Note also that the Canadian RCL does not have the 
alternative readings.



OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 17: 1 - 7   (RCL)

Exod 17:1 (NRSV) From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the 
Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at 
Reph'idim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people 
quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to 
them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" 3 But the 
people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and 
said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and 
livestock with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do 
with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 The LORD said to 
Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel 
with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and 
go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Ho'reb. Strike 
the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." 
Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place 
Mas'sah and Mer'ibah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, 
saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"


Ezekiel 18: 1 - 4, 25 - 32   (alt. for RCL)
Ezekiel 18: 25 - 28   (Roman Catholic)

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.

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?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to 
your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; 
otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the 
transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new 
heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have 
no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.


PSALM 78: 1 - 4, 12 - 16   (RCL)

Psal 78:1 (NRSV) Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

12 In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all night long with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks open in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock,
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.


Psalm 25: 4 - 9   (Roman Catholic)
Psalm 25: 1 - 9   (alt. for RCL)

Psal 25:1 (NRSV) To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Note that the verse numbering in your Psalter may be different (v. 1 in US 
BCP & in Common Worship = vs. 1&2 in NRSV)


NEW TESTAMENT: Philippians 2: 1 - 13   (RCL)
                                    Philippians 2: 1 - 5 (6 - 11)   (Roman 
Catholic)

Phil 2:1 (NRSV) If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any 
consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and 
sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, 
being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or 
conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each 
of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let 
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death-- 
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my 
presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with 
fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you 
both to will and to work for his good pleasure.


GOSPEL: Matthew 21: 23 - 32   (RCL)
                  Matthew 21: 28 - 32   (Roman Catholic)

Matt 21:23 (NRSV) When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the 
elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what 
authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 
Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the 
answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 
Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And 
they argued with one another, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say to us, 
"Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, "Of human origin,' we 
are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they 
answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell 
you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 
"Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered, "I will not'; but 
later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and 
said the same; and he answered, "I go, sir'; but he did not go. 31 Which of 
the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to 
them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going 
into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of 
righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the 
prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your 
minds and believe him.