Sunday, October 24, 2010

  Sirach 35: 12 - 14, 16 - 18

    For he is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.  Through not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.  He is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.

  He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens.  The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right.

  Psalms 34: 2 - 3, 17 - 19, 23

   I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.  Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

  The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.  When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

  But the Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

Second Timothy 4: 6 - 8, 16 - 18

   I for my part am already being poured out like a libation.  The time of my disolution is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have  kept the faith.  From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that Day the Lord, just judge that he is, will award it to  me - and not only to me, but to all who have looked for his appearing with eager longing.

  At the first hearing of my case in court, no one took my part.  In fact, everyone abandoned me.  May it not be held against them!  But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength, so that through me the preaching task might be completed and all the nations might hear the gospel.   That is  how I was saved  from the lion's jaws.  The Lord will continue to rescue me from all attempts to do me harm and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18: 9 - 14

   He then spoke this parable addressed to those who believed in their own self-righteousness while holding everyone else in comtempt:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee with head unbowed prayed in this fashion:  'I give you thanks, O God, that I  am not like the rest of men - grasping, crooked, adulterous - or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week.  I pay tithes on all I possess.'  The other man, however, kept his distance, not evey daring to raise his eyes to heaven.  All he did was beat his breast and say, 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'  Believe me, this man went home from the temple justified but the other did not.  For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled while he who humbles himself shall be exalted."