Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Collect:
O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running to obtain thy promises, may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
The word of the LORD came to me: @quot;What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

`The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die."

²⁵ "Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, `The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?"

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"

Second Lesson: Philippians 2:1-13
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Psalm: 25:1-14

1. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
   my God, I put my trust in you; *
   let me not be humiliated,
   nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2. Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
   let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3. Show me your ways, O LORD, *
   and teach me your paths.
4. Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   in you have I trusted all the day long.
5. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, *
   for they are from everlasting.
6. Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
   remember me according to your love
   and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
7. Gracious and upright is the LORD; *
   therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8. He guides the humble in doing right *
   and teaches his way to the lowly.
9. All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness *
   to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10. For your Name's sake, O LORD, *
    forgive my sin, for it is great.
11. Who are they who fear the LORD? *
    he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12. They shall dwell in prosperity, *
    and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13. The LORD is a friend to those who fear him *
    and will show them his covenant.

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

`I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, `I will, sir,' but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible