Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Exodus 22:21-27
"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.

Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate."

Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

Psalm: 1

1. Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
   nor lingered in the way of sinners,
   nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2. Their delight is in the law of the LORD, *
   and they meditate on his law day and night.!
3. They are like trees planted by streams of water,
   bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
   everything they do shall prosper.!
4. It is not so with the wicked; *
   they are like chaff which the wind blows away.!
5. Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
   nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.!
6. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, *
   but the way of the wicked is doomed.!

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"

"The son of David," they replied.

He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him `Lord'? For he says,

`The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." `

If then David calls him `Lord,' how can he be his son?" No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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