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15th Sunday after Pentecost • Year C
September 21, 2025 • Proper 20
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Historical Collect
Direct our hearts, O Lord, by your merciful reign, because without your help it is impossible to please you. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)(Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
God of abundance, all good gifts come from you and you bless us with life and salvation. Apart from your holy love we have nothing. Keep us mindful that we have been bought with a price and teach us to live generous and obedient lives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
Every good and perfect gift comes down to us from the Father of lights (James 1:17). Though some would rob others of these good gifts, God sees and will act. He is not so high above us that he will not humble himself to see our condition, then care for us. So what should we to do but call upon our loving Father, telling him what we need and where we hurt? And while we are talking to him, let us pray for the needs of others too, especially for those in high office, for when it goes well for them, that peace transfers to us. May we children of light act as sagaciously in prayer as the children of this age act in matters of the world.
First Reading • Amos 8:4–7
God sees. He also remembers. The deeds of those who mistreat the poor and needy will always be remembered by God. Until time ends, he remembers the falsehood of each person in each generation. Judgment is coming.
Psalm • Psalm 113:1–9
While some people take advantage of the poor and those in need, God takes care of them. He gives them “true riches” (Luke 16:11). If they will have it, the needy are blessed with dignity and barren women are blessed with children.
Second Reading • 1 Timothy 2:1–15
The “true riches” of the Church are prayer, thanksgiving, peace, quietness, godliness, and dignity. Just so, that holy woman, the Bride of Christ, should not be fixated on “fancy hair and jewelry and fine clothing.” Instead, she should humble herself before her Lord. This is the modest but holy beauty of the Church.
Gospel • Luke 16:1–15
What do you have? Is it just a little, or a great deal, or an amount somewhere between? Unfortunately, we stop with the counting. We stop when we realize we only have a little, or that we have enough, or that we desire more. But this is not the place to stop. Instead, however much we have, we should continue with prayerful consideration of what God wants us to do with our little lot. Before you stop, consider how God is calling you to be faithful with what riches he has given you.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
