Proper 20 (25) — Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

PSALM

Psalm 79:1-9

A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Amos 8:4-7

Verse 4. Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, Verse 5. asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. Verse 6. Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” Verse 7. The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget any of their deeds.

PSALM

Psalm 113

Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forevermore.

From where the sun rises to where it sets, the name of the LORD is praised.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high?

He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

to seat them with nobles, with the princes of His people.

He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Verse 1. First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— Verse 2. for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. Verse 3. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Verse 4. who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Verse 5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Verse 6. who gave Himself as a ransom for all — the testimony that was given at just the right time. Verse 7. For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

GOSPEL

Luke 16:1-13

Verse 1. Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. Verse 2. So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ Verse 3. The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. Verse 4. I know what I will do so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ Verse 5. And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first. Verse 6. ‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Take your bill,’ said the manager, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ Verse 7. Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him. Verse 8. The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light. Verse 9. I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings. Verse 10. Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Verse 11. So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? Verse 12. And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own? Verse 13. No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”