Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost	October 12, 2025
Prayer of the Day
O Lord, sustain your Church with your perpetual mercy. Without you, in our weakness we will surely fail. Therefore, keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Ruth 1:1-19a
^1In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. ^2The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. ^3But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. ^4These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, ^5and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. ^6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. ^7So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. ^8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. ^9The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. ^10And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” ^11But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? ^12Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, ^13would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” ^14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. ^15And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” ^16But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ^17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” ^18And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. ^19a So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. 
Psalm 111 (LBW)
^1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with | my whole heart,*
	in the assembly of the upright, in the | congregation.
^2Great are the deeds | of the Lord!*
	they are studied by all who de- | light in them.
^3His work is full of majes- | ty and splendor,*
	and his righteousness en- | dures forever.
^4He makes his marvelous works to | be remembered;*
	the Lord is gracious and full | of compassion.
^5He gives food to | those who fear him;*
	he is ever mindful | of his covenant.
^6He has shown his people the power | of his works*
	in giving them the lands | of the nations.
^7The works of his hands are faithful- | ness and justice;*
	all his command- | ments are sure.
^8They stand fast forev- | er and ever,*
	because they are done in | truth and equity.
^9He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his cove- | nant forever;*
	holy and awesome | is his Name.
^10The fear of the Lord is the begin- | ning of wisdom;*
	those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise en- | dures forever.
Psalm 111 (ESV)
^1Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
^2Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
^3Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
^4He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
^5He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
^6He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
^7The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;
^8they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
^9He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
^10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
^1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ^2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. ^3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ^4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ^5An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ^6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ^7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. ^8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, ^9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! ^10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ^11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ^12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; ^13if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
^11On the way to Jerusalem {Jesus} was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. ^12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance ^13and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” ^14When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. ^15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ^16and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. ^17Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ^18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ^19And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Lessons for Next Week
Genesis 32:22-30; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8