[Propertalk] READINGS for the TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 19, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. Unless stated otherwise, the ECUSA readings are identical to the RCL for this Sunday. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. 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:  Judges 4: 1 - 7  (RCL)

Judg 4:1 (NRSV) The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after E'hud died. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Ja'bin of Ca'naan, who reigned in Ha'zor; the commander of his army was Sis'era, who lived in Haro'sheth-ha-goi'im. 3 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years. 
4 At that time Deb'orah, a prophetess, wife of Lap'pidoth, was judging Israel. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deb'orah between Ra'mah and Beth'el in the hill country of E'phraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Bar'ak son of Abin'oam from Ke'desh in Naph'tali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, "Go, take position at Mount Ta'bor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naph'tali and the tribe of Zeb'ulun. 7 I will draw out Sis'era, the general of Ja'bin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Ki'shon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'" 


Zephaniah 1: 7, 12 - 18  (C of E, alt. for RCL)

Zeph 1:7 (NRSV) Be silent before the Lord GOD! 
For the day of the LORD is at hand; 
the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, 
he has consecrated his guests. 

12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, 
and I will punish the people 
who rest complacently on their dregs, 
those who say in their hearts, 
"The LORD will not do good, 
nor will he do harm." 
13 Their wealth shall be plundered, 
and their houses laid waste. 
Though they build houses, 
they shall not inhabit them; 
though they plant vineyards, 
they shall not drink wine from them. 
14 The great day of the LORD is near, 
near and hastening fast; 
the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, 
the warrior cries aloud there. 
15 That day will be a day of wrath, 
a day of distress and anguish, 
a day of ruin and devastation, 
a day of darkness and gloom, 
a day of clouds and thick darkness, 
16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry 
against the fortified cities 
and against the lofty battlements. 
17 I will bring such distress upon people 
that they shall walk like the blind; 
because they have sinned against the LORD, 
their blood shall be poured out like dust, 
and their flesh like dung. 
18 Neither their silver nor their gold 
will be able to save them 
on the day of the LORD's wrath; 
in the fire of his passion 
the whole earth shall be consumed; 
for a full, a terrible end 
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. 


Proverbs 31: 10 - 13, 19 - 20, 30 - 31  (Roman Catholic)

Prov 31:10 (NRSV) A capable wife who can find? 
She is far more precious than jewels. 
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, 
and he will have no lack of gain. 
12 She does him good, and not harm, 
all the days of her life. 
13 She seeks wool and flax, 
and works with willing hands. 

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, 
and her hands hold the spindle. 
20 She opens her hand to the poor, 
and reaches out her hands to the needy. 

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, 
and let her works praise her in the city gates. 


PSALM 123  (RCL)

Psal 123:1 (NRSV) To you I lift up my eyes, 
O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 
2 As the eyes of servants 
look to the hand of their master, 
as the eyes of a maid 
to the hand of her mistress, 
so our eyes look to the LORD our God, 
until he has mercy upon us. 
3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, 
for we have had more than enough of contempt. 
4 Our soul has had more than its fill 
of the scorn of those who are at ease, 
of the contempt of the proud. 


Psalm 90: 1 - 8 (9 - 11) 12   (C of E, alt. for RCL)

Psal 90:1 (NRSV) Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, 
or ever you had formed the earth and the world, 
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 
3 You turn us back to dust, 
and say, "Turn back, you mortals." 
4 For a thousand years in your sight 
are like yesterday when it is past, 
or like a watch in the night. 
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, 
like grass that is renewed in the morning; 
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; 
in the evening it fades and withers. 
7 For we are consumed by your anger; 
by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 
8 You have set our iniquities before you, 
our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; 
our years come to an end like a sigh. 
10 The days of our life are seventy years, 
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; 
even then their span is only toil and trouble; 
they are soon gone, and we fly away. 
11 Who considers the power of your anger? 
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 
12 So teach us to count our days 
that we may gain a wise heart. 


Psalm 128: 1 - 5   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 128:1 (NRSV) Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, 
who walks in his ways. 
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; 
you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. 
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine 
within your house; 
your children will be like olive shoots 
around your table. 
4 Thus shall the man be blessed 
who fears the LORD. 
5 The LORD bless you from Zion. 
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem 
all the days of your life. 


NEW TESTAMENT:  1 Thessalonians 5: 1 - 11   (RCL, C of E)
                                     1 Thessalonians 5: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

1The 5:1 (NRSV) Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7 for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 


GOSPEL:  Matthew 25: 14 - 30  (RCL, C of E)
                    Matthew 25: 14 - 15 (16 - 18) 19 - 21 (22 - 30)   (Roman Catholic)

Matt 25:14 (NRSV) "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, "Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' 21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, "Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' 23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, "You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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