Proper 17, Closest to August 31

Collect
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ecclesiasticus 10:(7-11)12-18
(Odious to the Lord and to men is arrogance and the sin of oppression they both hate.

Dominion is transferred from one people to another because of the violence of the arrogant.

Why are dust and ash proud? even during life man's body decays; a slight illness - the doctor jests, a king today - tomorrow he is dead.

When a man dies, he inherits corruption; worms and gnats and maggots.)

The beginning of pride is man's stubbornness in withdrawing his heart from his Maker; for pride is the reservoir of sin, a source that runs over with vice; because of it, God sends unheard-of afflictions and brings men to utter ruin.

The thrones of the arrogant God overturns and establishes the lowly in their stead.

The roots of the proud God plucks up to plant the humble in their place: He breaks down their stem to the level of the ground, then digs their roots from the earth.

The traces of the proud God sweeps away and effaces the memory of them from the earth.

Insolence is not allotted to a man nor stubborn anger to one born of a woman.

Second Lesson: Hebrews 13:1-8
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Psalm: 112

  1. Hallelujah!
    Happy are they who fear the Lord *
    and have great delight in his commandments!
  2. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
  3. Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
    and their righteousness will last for ever.
  4. Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
    the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
  5. It is good for them to be generous in lending *
    and to manage their affairs with justice.
  6. For they will never be shaken; *
    the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
  7. They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
    their heart is right;
    they put their trust in the Lord.
  8. Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
    until they see their desire upon their enemies.
  9. They have given freely to the poor, *
    and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
    they will hold up their head with honor.
  10. The wicked will see it and be angry;
    they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *
    the desires of the wicked will perish.

Gospel: Luke 14:1,7-14
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, `Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, `Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

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