26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Theme: “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them”

 

1st Reading: Amos, Chapter 6: 1a, 4-7

The prophet Amos criticises the lack of compassion by the wealthy for the poor in our society. With time, he says, their wealth would be a thing of the past.

 

2^nd Reading: 1Timothy, Chapter 6: 11-16

Paul reminds Timothy, and all of us, to live virtuous lives and to continually renew our baptismal vows until the end of time.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke, Chapter 16: 19-31

The fate that befell the rich man in the parable should remind us that those who are the most insignificant socially may be the ones who have a value in God’s kingdom. It is unwise to ignore the Lazarus in our community.

25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Theme: To each his/her own

 

1^st Reading: Amos, Chapter 8: 4-7

Amos preaches against social injustice and warns that God will not spare those who oppress the lowly.

 

2^nd Reading: 1Timothy, Chapter 2: 1-8

Paul intimates that one kind of prayer that pleases God is prayer that seeks to intercede for all people.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke, Chapter 16: 1-13

Jesus condemns the manager’s dishonesty, but applauds his shrewdness. Children of the light can learn useful lessons on how to use their God-given talents to earn the favour of God.

 

THE TRIUMPH OF THE HOLY CROSS YEAR C

Theme: We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 

 

1st Reading: Numbers, Chapter 21: 4a-9 

The Israelites were bitten by poisonous snakes because of their short memory of God’s power, as well as their complaining attitude. Yet God provided an antidote through their obedience to his instruction to look up at the bronze serpent. 

 

2nd Reading: Philippians, Chapter 2: 6-11 

Jesus Christ humbled himself, and so God gave him a name high above every other person, so that we all may look upon him as the Lord! 

 

Gospel Reading: John, Chapter 3: 13-17 

Jesus refers to the healing that came to the Jews when they looked upon the bronze serpent lifted, and draws similarities between that event and our salvation from sin, which can only come when we look up, in faith, to him crucified. 

23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Theme: Wisdom and the demands of discipleship

 

1^st Reading: Wisdom, Chapter 9: 13-18b

This scripture emphasises the need to pray for and to obtain wisdom from God, like the holy people of old did. God’s within us enables us to understand even the ordinary things that happen to us.

 

2^nd Reading: Philemon, verses 9-10, 12-17

Paul’s admonition to Philemon to take the runaway slave back as a brother breaks conventional wisdom. The practice of clemency, which Paul is obviously advocating, is in line with divine wisdom.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke, Chapter 14: 25-33

Jesus says that those who feel called to follow Him must, like the builder of the tower and the king in the scripture, diligently weigh the options, assess their strengths and weaknesses and take a decisive step.