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16th Sunday after Pentecost • Year C
September 28, 2025 • Proper 21
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Historical Collect
O Almighty and most Merciful God, through your bountiful goodness, keep us from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that you would have us do. Grant this, we pray, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
Redeeming Lord, only in Jesus can we be set free from the power of sin and death. Instill in your church wise and generous hearts that we may be faithful stewards of the grace and love we have received from you; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
Having been asked what his number one goal in life was, a middle-aged man once said, “To retire. All I want to do is sit on a porch swing and wait for the post office to deliver my retirement check.” Our readings speak to so much more in life, indeed, what is expected of us in the living of our lives. The First Reading warns us away from this lifestyle, as long as God’s people suffer. The psalmist advises us to not place our trust in government to help the oppressed and the poor; their help comes from the Lord. The Second Reading gives a list of qualifications for both bishops and deacons, the latter being those whom God calls to, among other things, meet the needs of the hungry in the Church. The Gospel Reading also teaches about serving—and the ultimate danger that comes from being self-serving.
First Reading • Amos 6:1–7
Woe to those who find their security in their country, political party, or for that matter, in their religious affiliation. Woe to those who find rest in the luxuries of their houses, the food in their pantry, and their idle time. Our security and our rest is in the Lord alone, for while all of these earthly things are easily displaced by exile and disaster, that security and peace that is the Lord cannot be taken from us.
Psalm • Psalm 146:1–10
The next presidential election in the United States seems to always be right around the corner. People will soon be lamenting who gets elected, or be singing the praises of the new president. Christians should know better. We must not put our trust in presidents and politicians, for while they may do some earthly good, there is no salvation in them. They will return to the earth like everyone else, and their political platforms will perish with them. We must not place our hope in national leaders who promise to remake a nation over the course of a few years. Our hope is in Lord, who reigns forever.
Second Reading • 1 Timothy 3:1–13
People tend to pick apart political candidates, scrutinizing their moral standards, as well as their platforms. Would that we would be so critical of ourselves. The qualifications of bishops and deacons should be the measure to which all Christians aspire. While we may not have much faith in politicians, if we serve the Church well, we gain a good reputation and great assurance of the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Gospel • Luke 16:19–31
The things of this earth that people accumulate for themselves are not a sign of God’s favor—despite what some preachers proclaim. The increase of these material goods does folks no eternal good. Yet the increase of belief in what Moses and the prophets taught leads to faith in Christ who was raised from the dead. If they will not hear and believe the bad news of the law, they will not hear and believe the good news of the resurrected Christ.
Resources
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