Preparing for the Twenty-Second
Sunday after Pentecost

Year A

Prayer

Psalm 1

Their delight is in the law

 

Happy are those

who do not follow the advice of the wicked,

or take the path that sinners tread,

or sit in the seat of scoffers;

but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law they meditate day and night.

They are like trees

planted by streams of water,

which yield their fruit in its season,

and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

Proverbs 24:23-34

Rise above retribution

 

These also are sayings of the wise:

Partiality in judging is not good.

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

One who gives an honest answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

Prepare your work outside,

get everything ready for you in the field;

and after that build your house.

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me;

I will pay them back for what they have done.”

I passed by the field of one who was lazy,

by the vineyard of a stupid person;

and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want, like an armed warrior.

 

John 5:39-47

Moses judges the disobedient

 

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”