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Image: "Rich and Poor, or, War and Peace," 17th century, Anonymous, painting. Ulm, Germany.

Theme of the Day

As we are invited today to consider what it means to be managers (rather than owners) of all that we have, it is crucial to recognize that we are bought with a price. “Christ Jesus, himself human, ... gave himself a ransom for all.” Apart from the generosity of God we have nothing—we are nothing. By God’s gracious favor we have everything we need.

The Collect for Sunday

O God, you are rich in love for your people: show us the treasure that endures and, when we are tempted by greed, call us back into your service and entrust us with the wealth that never fails. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

Prayer Intentions

The prayers of the church are offered especially:

  • for the people of this nation, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth in this time of official mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our Queen, and for the Royal Family in their time of loss;
  • for the renewal of creation;
  • for peace in the world and especially for an end to the war in Ukraine;
  • for all refugees, especially those from Afghanistan seeking refuge in Canada;
  • for the needs of the world, especially at this time of continuing pandemic;
  • for those who are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus;
  • for those who are sick and those awaiting surgeries postponed;
  • for the healing of racial inequality, prejudice, bigotry, systemic racism, injustice, and hatred;
  • for all who grieve for lost children, for the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and for generational healing;
  • for those who are homeless;
  • for all those who mourn, who are lonely, or suffer from depression;
  • for all those who work for reconciliation and the common good;
  • for Charles our King and all those set in authority under him, for Justin, the Prime Minister of Canada and all members of parliament; Doug, the Premier of Ontario and all member of the legistlature; Fred, the mayor of Hamilton and those who serve on city council;
  • for the whole church: for Lynda, our Primate; Ann, our Metropolitan; for Susan, our Diocesan Bishop; for David and Brian, our priests; for all bish­ops, priests and dea­cons; and for all the bap­tized: that God may accomplish God's work in and through us for the sake of the world;
  • for our parish in this time of transition;
  • for all for whom we have been asked to pray, especially Olga, Jane, and Barb;
  • for those who are dying and all those who have departed from this life and are at rest. 

In our cycles of prayer:

  • With the worldwide Anglican Communion, we pray for Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.
  • In our diocese, we pray for St. John the Divine, Cayuga, The Reverend Canon Dr. Catherine Crawford Browning, Interim Priest-in-Charge, and the people of that parish.
  • In our neighbourhood we pray for Blessings Christian Church, Pastors Bill DeJong, Ian Wildeboer, Greg Davidson, and the people of that congregation.
  • In our parish cycle of prayer we pray for Dave, Susan, Steve, Emma, Duncan, Willa, Flora, Charles, Amy, Olga, and Yvonne. We pray also for Artaban Place, our neighbours: for all residents; for members of the Artaban Place Board of Directors; and for the building Superintendent.

Prayer requests to be included on the following Sunday can be submitted here by the Thursday morning before.

The Readings for Sunday

First Reading: Amos 8:4-7

Amos was called by God to prophesy in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Peace and prosperity in Israel led to corrupt business practices and oppression of the poor. The prophet declares that God will not tolerate such a situation.

 4Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
  and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
 5saying, “When will the new moon be over
  so that we may sell grain;
 and the sabbath,
  so that we may offer wheat for sale?
 We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
  and practice deceit with false balances,
 6buying the poor for silver
  and the needy for a pair of sandals,
  and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”

 7The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
 Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

Psalm: Psalm 113

The Lord lifts up the poor from the ashes. (Ps. 113:7)

 1Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants | of the Lord;
  praise the name | of the Lord.
 2Let the name of the | Lord be blessed,
  from this time forth for- | evermore.
 3From the rising of the sun to its | going down
  let the name of the | Lord be praised.
 4The Lord is high a- | bove all nations;
  God’s glory a- | bove the heavens. R
 5Who is like the | Lord our God,
  who sits en- | throned on high,
 6but stoops | to behold
  the heavens | and the earth?
 7The Lord takes up the weak out | of the dust
  and lifts up the poor | from the ashes,
 8enthroning them | with the rulers,
  with the rulers | of the people.
 9The Lord makes the woman of a | childless house
  to be a joyful mother of children. | Hallelujah! R

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

The pastoral epistles offer insight into how early Christians understood many practical matters, such as church administration and worship. The church’s focused prayer for others is an expression of the single-minded passion God has toward us in Jesus.

1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For
 there is one God;
  there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
 Christ Jesus, himself human,
  6who gave himself a ransom for all
—this was attested at the right time.7For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

Jesus tells the curious story of a dishonest manager who cheats his employer and then is commended by him for having acted so shrewdly. Jesus wonders why his own followers are less creative and diligent in their stewardship given that they are managers of a far more valuable household.

1Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
 10“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Semicontinuous First Reading: Jeremiah 8:18--9:1

Jeremiah’s primary task as God’s prophet was to announce the terrible destruction that awaited the people of Judah and Jerusalem because of their sin. In this passage, a grief-stricken Jeremiah anguishes over the sadness of that message and weeps for his people.

 18My joy is gone, grief is upon me,
  my heart is sick.
 19Hark, the cry of my poor people
  from far and wide in the land:
 “Is the Lord not in Zion?
  Is her King not in her?”
 (“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
  with their foreign idols?”)
 20“The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
  and we are not saved.”
 21For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,
  I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.

 22Is there no balm in Gilead?
  Is there no physician there?
 Why then has the health of my poor people
  not been restored?
 9:1O that my head were a spring of water,
  and my eyes a fountain of tears,
 so that I might weep day and night
  for the slain of my poor people!

Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 79:1-9

Deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your name’s sake. (Ps. 79:9)

 1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have profaned your | holy temple;
  they have made Jerusalem a | heap of rubble.
 2They have given the bodies of your servants as food for the birds | of the air,
  and the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts | of the field.
 3They have shed their blood like water on every side | of Jerusalem,
  and there was no one to | bury them.
 4We have become a reproach | to our neighbors,
  an object of scorn and derision to | those around us. R
 5How long will you be an- | gry, O Lord?
  Will your fury blaze like | fire forever?
 6Pour out your wrath upon the nations who | have not known you
  and upon the kingdoms that have not called up- | on your name.
 7For they have de- | voured Jacob
  and made his dwell- | ing a ruin.
 8Remember not our past sins; let your compassion be | swift to meet us;
  for we have been brought | very low.
 9Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory | of your name;
  deliver us and forgive us our sins, | for your name’s sake. R

This Week in Holy Time

  • Sunday (18): Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (The Lord's Day). Season of Creation. 
  • Monday (19): Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Cantebury, 690 (Commenoration). Season of Creation. 
  • Tuesday (20):  John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesian, and His Companions (Commemoration). Season of Creation. 
  • Wednesday (21):  Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (Holy Day). Season of Creation. 
  • Thursday (22): Feria. Season of Creation. 
  • Friday (23):   Holy Cross Ember Day. Day of discipline and self-denial and Season of Creation. 
  • Saturday (24): Holy Cross Ember Day. Eve of Sunday. Season of Creation. 
  • Sunday (25): Fourteen Sunday after Pentecost (The Lord's Day). Season of Creation.