Readings

Trinity 20 – 13.10.2024

Collect.

Contemporary

God, the giver of life, whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:

by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ

and make us eager to do your will, that we may share with the whole creation

the joys of eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Continuous

Job 23. 1-9, 16, 17

Then Job answered: ‘Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge. ‘If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.
God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Psalm 22. 1-15

Pointed Psalm

My God, my God, why have / you for/saken me :

and are so far from my salvation,

     from the / words of / my dis/tress?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you / do not / answer :

and by night also, / but I / find no / rest.

Yet you / are the / Holy One :

enthroned up/on the / praises of / Israel.

Our forebears / trusted in / you :

they / trusted, and / you de/livered them.

They cried out to you and / were de/livered :

they put their trust in you / and were / not con/founded.

But as for me, I am a worm and / no / man :

scorned by all / and des/pised • by the / people.

All who see me / laugh me to / scorn :

they curl their lips and / wag their / heads, / saying,

‘He trusted in the Lord; / let him de/liver him :

let him de/liver him, if / he de/lights in him.’

But it is you that took me / out of the / womb :

and laid me safe up/on my / mother’s / breast.

On you was I cast ever since / I was / born :

you are my God even / from my / mother’s / womb.

Be not far from me, for trouble is / near at / hand :

and / there is / none to / help.

Mighty oxen / come a/round me :

fat bulls of Bashan close me / in on / every / side.

They gape upon me / with their / mouths :

as it were a / ramping • and a / roaring / lion.

I am poured out like water;

     all my bones are / out of / joint :

my heart has become like wax

     / melting • in the / depths of my / body.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd;

     my tongue / cleaves to my / gums :

you have laid me / in the / dust of / death.

Hebrews 4. 12-16

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 10. 17-31

As he 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; Honour 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.’

Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age – houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

Related

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.

Psalm 90. 12-17

Pointed Psalm

So teach us to / number our / days :

that we may ap/ply our / hearts to / wisdom.

Turn again, O Lord; how long will / you de/lay? :

Have com/passion / on your / servants.

Satisfy us with your loving-kindness / in the / morning :

that we may rejoice and be / glad / all our / days.

Give us gladness for the days / you have af/flicted us :

and for the years in which / we have / seen ad/versity.

Show your / servants your / works :

and let your / glory be / over their / children.

May the gracious favour of the Lord our God / be up/on us :

prosper our handiwork; O / prosper the / work of our / hands.

Hebrews 4. 12-16

Mark 10. 17-31

The Church in Wales: Word of the Lord 2011. Copyright @ Church in Wales Publications 2011