Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost Year B
First Reading: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground! They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
1. How difficult is it to know when to keep silent and when to speak out?
Psalm 90:1-8, 12 Page 717, BCP
Domine, refugium
1
Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.
3
You turn us back to the dust and say, *
"Go back, O child of earth."
4
For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
and like a watch in the night.
5
You sweep us away like a dream; *
we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6
In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
7
For we consume away in your displeasure; *
we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
8
Our iniquities you have set before you, *
and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
12
So teach us to number our days *
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
1. What benefit is there in numbering our days?
Epistle Reading: Hebrews 3:1-6
Brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also "was faithful in all God's house." Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later. Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.
1. What does it mean to be the house of God?
The Gospel: Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."