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Today is September 28th.
Trinity 19
First Reading: Ezekiel 18.1-4,25-32
The word of the Lord came to
me: What do you mean by repeating this
proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, and
the children's teeth are set on edge'?
As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you
in Israel. Know that all lives are mine;
the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the
person who sins that shall die. Yet you
say, 'The way of the Lord is unfair.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way
unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit
iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they
shall die. Again, when the wicked turn
away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right,
they shall save their life. Because
they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had
committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of
the Lord is unfair.' O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways
that are unfair? Therefore I will judge
you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God.
Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your
ruin. Cast away from you all the
transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new
heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of
anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
Psalm 25.1-9
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God,
in / you I / trust: let me not be put to shame; let not my /
enemies / triumph / over me.
Let none who look to you be / put to / shame:
but let the / treacherous be /
shamed and frus/trated.
Make me to know your / ways, O / Lord:
and / teach me / your / paths.
Lead me in your / truth and / teach me:
for you are the God of my salvation; for
you have I / hoped / all the day / long.
Remember, Lord, your com/passion and / love:
for they / are from / ever/lasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth or / my
trans/gressions: but think on me in your goodness, O
Lord, according / to your / steadfast / love.
Gracious and upright / is the / Lord:
therefore shall he teach / sinners / in
the / way.
He will guide the humble in / doing / right:
and / teach his / way to the / lowly.
All the paths of the Lord are / mercy and /
truth: to those who keep his / covenant / and
his / testimonies.
Second Reading: Philippians 2.1-13
Your life in Christ makes
you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and
you have kindness and compassion for one another. I urge you, then, to make me
completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being
one in soul and mind. Don't do anything
from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one
another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests,
not just for your own. The attitude you
should have is the one that Christ Jesus had. He always had the
nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal
with God. Instead of this, of his own
free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became
like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of
obedience all the way to death - his
death on the cross. For this
reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is
greater than any other name. And so, in
honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world
below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with
you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you.
Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, because God
is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own
purpose.
Gospel: Matthew 21.23-32
When Jesus entered
the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he
was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things, and who
gave you this authority?' Jesus said to
them, 'I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will
also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or
was it of human origin?' And they argued with one another, 'If we say, "From
heaven," he will say to us, "Why then did you not believe him?" But if we say, "Of human origin," we are
afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.' So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know.'
And he said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing
these things. What do you think? A man
had two sons; he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard
today." He answered, "I will not"; but
later he changed his mind and went. The
father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, "I go, sir"; but
he did not go.
Post Communion Prayer
Holy and blessed God, you have fed us
with the body and blood of your Son and filled us with your Holy Spirit: may we
honour you, not only with our lips but in lives dedicated to the service of
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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