Reflecting on the Seventh
Sunday after the Epiphany

Year A

Prayer

Psalm 119:57-64

Keeping the law in spite of the wicked

 

The Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

I implore your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

When I think of your ways,

I turn my feet to your decrees;

I hurry and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to praise you,

because of your righteous ordinances.

I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes.

 

Proverbs 3:27-35

Regard for neighbors

 

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Do not plan harm against your neighbor

who lives trustingly beside you.

Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,

when no harm has been done to you.

Do not envy the violent

and do not choose any of their ways;

for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,

but the upright are in his confidence.

The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the abode of the righteous.

Toward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he shows favor.

The wise will inherit honor,

but stubborn fools, disgrace.

 

Luke 18:18-30

The rich young ruler

 

A certain ruler 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 commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, 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.”

 

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”

 

Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”