19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 18:6-9 (JB)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

Just as you struck our enemies, you made us glorious by calling us to you.

That night had been foretold to our ancestors,

so that,

once they saw what kind of oaths they had put their trust in,

they would joyfully take courage.

This was the expectation of your people,

the saving of the virtuous and the ruin of their enemies;

for by the same act with which you took vengeance on our foes

you made us glorious by calling us to you.

The devout children of worthy men offered sacrifice in secret

and this divine pact they struck with one accord:

that the saints would share the same blessings and dangers alike;

and forthwith they had begun to chant the hymns of the fathers.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Wisdom 18:6-9 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The night of the deliverance from Egypt

was made known beforehand to our ancestors,

so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths

in which they trusted.

The deliverance of the righteous

and the destruction of their enemies

were expected by your people.

For by the same means

by which you punished our enemies

you called us to yourself and glorified us.

For in secret

the holy children of good people offered sacrifices,

and with one accord agreed to the divine law,

so that the saints would share alike the same things,

both blessings and dangers;

and already they were singing the praises of the ancestors.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 32:1, 12, 18-20, 22 (JB)

R. Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;

for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

They are happy, whose God is the Lord,

the people he has chosen as his own. R.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

on those who hope in his love,

to rescue their souls from death,

to keep them alive in famine. R.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.

The Lord is our help and our shield.

May your love be upon us, O Lord,

as we place all our hope in you. R.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12 (JB)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

We will look for the city designed and built by God.

Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he arrived, as a foreigner, in the Promised Land, and lived there as if in a strange country, with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God.

It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who was already as good as dead himself, more descendants than could be counted, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand on the seashore.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 (JB)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

We will look for the city designed and built by God.

Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he arrived, as a foreigner, in the Promised Land, and lived there as if in a strange country, with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God.

It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who was already as good as dead himself, more descendants than could be counted, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand on the seashore.

All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth. People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of their real homeland.  They can hardly have meant the country they came from, since they had the opportunity to go back to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland.  That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them.

It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac.  He offered to sacrifice his only son even though the promises had been made to him and he had been told:  It is through Isaac that your name will be carried on.  He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead, and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

By faith Abraham obeyed

when he was called to set out for a place

that he was to receive as an inheritance;

and he set out,

not knowing where he was going.

By faith he stayed for a time

in the land he had been promised,

as in a foreign land, living in tents,

as did Isaac and Jacob,

who were heirs with him of the same promise.

For Abraham looked forward to the city that has foundations,

whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Sarah herself, though barren,

received power to conceive, even when she was too old,

because she considered him faithful who had promised.

Therefore from one person,

and this one as good as dead,

descendants were born,

“as many as the stars of heaven

and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

By faith Abraham obeyed

when he was called to set out for a place

that he was to receive as an inheritance;

and he set out,

not knowing where he was going.

By faith he stayed for a time

in the land he had been promised,

as in a foreign land, living in tents,

as did Isaac and Jacob,

who were heirs with him of the same promise.

For Abraham looked forward to the city that has foundations,

whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Sarah herself, though barren,

received power to conceive, even when she was too old,

because she considered him faithful who had promised.

Therefore from one person,

and this one as good as dead,

descendants were born,

“as many as the stars of heaven

and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

All of these died in faith

without having received the promises,

but from a distance they saw and greeted them.

They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,

for people who speak in this way

make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind,

they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country,

that is, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God;

indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test,

offered up Isaac.

He who had received the promises

was ready to offer up his only son,

of whom he had been told,

“It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”

Abraham considered the fact

that God is able even to raise someone from the dead-

and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 24:42, 44 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Be watchful and ready:

You know not when the Son of Man is coming.

Alleluia!

Matthew 24:42, 44 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Be watchful and ready:

you know not when the Son of Man is coming.

Alleluia!

Luke 12:32-48 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

See that you are prepared.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.

‘Sell your possessions and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming”, and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

‘The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:35-40 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

See that you are prepared.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:32-48 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Do not be afraid, little flock,

for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions, and give alms.

Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out,

an unfailing treasure in heaven,

where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;

be like those who are waiting for their master

to return from the wedding banquet,

so that they may open the door for him

as soon as he comes and knocks.

Blessed are those slaves

whom the master finds alert when he comes;

truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt

and have them sit down to eat,

and he will come and serve them.

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn,

and finds them so,

blessed are those slaves.

“But know this:

if the owner of the house

had known at what hour the thief was coming,

he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be ready,

for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” *

Peter said,

“Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”

And the Lord said,

“Who then is the faithful and prudent manager

whom his master will put in charge of his slaves,

to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?

Blessed is that slave

whom his master will find at work when he arrives.

Truly I tell you,

he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.

But if that slave says to himself,

‘My master is delayed in coming,’

and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women,

and to eat and drink and get drunk,

the master of that slave will come on a day

when he does not expect him

and at an hour that he does not know,

and will cut him in pieces,

and put him with the unfaithful.

“That slave who knew what his master wanted,

but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted,

will receive a severe beating.

But the one who did not know

and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating.

“From everyone to whom much has been given,

much will be required;

and from the one to whom much has been entrusted,

even more will be demanded.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:35-40 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;

be like those who are waiting for their master

to return from the wedding banquet,

so that they may open the door for him

as soon as he comes and knocks.

Blessed are those slaves

whom the master finds alert when he comes;

truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt

and have them sit down to eat,

and he will come and serve them.

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn,

and finds them so,

blessed are those slaves.

“But know this: if the owner of the house

had known at what hour the thief was coming,

he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be ready,

for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.