[Propertalk] READINGS for the EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after 
Pentecost, October 13, (Proper 23) 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.



OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 29: 1, 4 - 7   (RCL)

Jere 29:1 (NRSV) These are the words of the letter that the prophet 
Jeremi'ah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, 
and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom 
Nebuchadnez'zar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom 
I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and 
live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Take wives and 
have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your 
daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply 
there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I 
have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its 
welfare you will find your welfare.


2 Kings 5: 1 - 3, 7 - 15c (alt. for RCL)
2 Kings 5: 14 - 17 (Roman Catholic)

2Kin 5:1 (NRSV) Na'aman, commander of the army of the king of Ar'am, was 
a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD 
had given victory to Ar'am. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered 
from leprosy. 2 Now the Arame'ans on one of their raids had taken a 
young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Na'aman's 
wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet 
who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 
"Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure 
a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a 
quarrel with me."
8 But when Eli'sha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn 
his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your 
clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet 
in Israel." 9 So Na'aman came with his horses and chariots, and halted 
at the entrance of Eli'sha's house. 10 Eli'sha sent a messenger to him, 
saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be 
restored and you shall be clean." 11 But Na'aman became angry and went 
away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand 
and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over 
the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Aba'na and Phar'par, the 
rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not 
wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But 
his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had 
commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How 
much more, when all he said to you was, "Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he 
went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to 
the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a 
young boy, and he was clean.
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came 
and stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all 
the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant." 
16 But he said, "As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will accept 
nothing!" He urged him to accept, but he refused. 17 Then Na'aman said, 
"If not, please let two mule-loads of earth be given to your servant; 
for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any 
god except the LORD.


PSALM 66: 1 - 12 (RCL)

Psal 66:1 (NRSV) Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise.
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name." [Se'lah]
5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him,
7 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations--
let the rebellious not exalt themselves. [Se'lah]
8 Bless our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid burdens on our backs;
12 you let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

Note: Verse numbering in your psalter may differ from the above.


Psalm 111 (alt. for RCL)

Psal 111:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever.


Psalm 98: 1 - 4 (Roman Catholic)

Psal 98:1 (NRSV) O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.


NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Timothy 2: 8 - 15 (RCL)
                2 Timothy 2: 8 - 13 (Roman Catholic)

2Tim 2:8 (NRSV) 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a 
descendant of David--that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, 
even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God 
is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the 
elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ 
Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--
for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid 
wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are 
listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by 
him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word 
of truth.


GOSPEL: Luke 17: 11 - 19 (all)

Luke 17:11 (NRSV) On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the 
region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten 
lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, 
saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said 
to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they 
were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, 
turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at 
Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus 
asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 
Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this 
foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your 
faith has made you well."



-- 
Chad Wohlers
chadwohl at satucket.com
Woodbury, VT   USA