·  11 Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, c. 540 is a Christian saint, who is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion and Old Catholic Churches.^[1] St. Benedict is the patron saint of Europe^[2] and students.

·  12 Nathan Söderblom, Archbishop of Uppsala and Ecumenist, 1931

·  13 Conrad Weiser, Witness to Peace and Reconciliation, 1760

·  14 Samson Occom, Witness to the Faith in New England, 1792

·  16 "The Righteous Gentiles" is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis.

OLD TESTAMENT: Amos 7: 7 - 17   (RCL)

Amos 7:7 (NRSV) This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, "A'mos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said,

"See, I am setting a plumb line

in the midst of my people Israel;

I will never again pass them by;

9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,

and I will rise against the house of Jerobo'am with the sword."

10 Then Amazi'ah, the priest of Beth'el, sent to King Jerobo'am of Israel, saying, "A'mos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus A'mos has said,

"Jerobo'am shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile

away from his land.'"

12 And Amazi'ah said to A'mos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Beth'el, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."

14 Then A'mos answered Amazi'ah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'

16 "Now therefore hear the word of the LORD.

You say, "Do not prophesy against Israel,

and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'

17 Therefore thus says the LORD:

"Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city,

and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword,

and your land shall be parceled out by line;

you yourself shall die in an unclean land,

and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'"

Deuteronomy 30: 9 - 14 (alt. for RCL)

Deuteronomy 30: 10 - 14 (Roman Catholic)

Deut 30:9 (NRSV) ... [T]he LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, 10 when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

Note: The Roman Catholic lectionary begins this reading with: "Moses said to the people:"

PSALM 82 (RCL)

Psal 82:1 (NRSV) God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 "How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? [Se'lah]

3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan;

maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

they walk around in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I say, "You are gods,

children of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,

and fall like any prince."

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth;

for all the nations belong to you!

82   Deus stetit     (ECUSA BCP)

1               God takes his stand in the council of heaven; *

     he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:

2               “How long will you judge unjustly, *

     and show favor to the wicked?

3               Save the weak and the orphan; *

     defend the humble and needy;

4               Rescue the weak and the poor; *

     deliver them from the power of the wicked.

5               They do not know, neither do they understand;

they go about in darkness; *

     all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6               Now I say to you, ‘You are gods, *

     and all of you children of the Most High;

7               Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *

     and fall like any prince.’”

8               Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *

     for you shall take all nations for your own.

Psalm 25: 1 - 10   (alt. for RCL)

Psal 25:1 (NRSV) To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust;

do not let me be put to shame;

do not let my enemies exult over me.

3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;

let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all day long.

6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for your goodness' sake, O LORD!

8 Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.

25   Ad te, Domine, levavi   (ECUSA BCP)

1  To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;

my God, I put my trust in you; *

     let me not be humiliated,

     nor let my enemies triumph over me.

2  Let none who look to you be put to shame; *

     let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.

3  Show me your ways, O Lord, *

     and teach me your paths.

4  Lead me in your truth and teach me, *

     for you are the God of my salvation;

     in you have I trusted all the day long.

5  Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *

     for they are from everlasting.

6  Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *

     remember me according to your love

     and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.

7  Gracious and upright is the Lord; *

     therefore he teaches sinners in his way.

8  He guides the humble in doing right *

     and teaches his way to the lowly.

9  All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *

     to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 69: 13, 16, 29-30, 32-33, 35a, 36 (Roman Catholic)

Psal 69:13 (NRSV) But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.

At an acceptable time, O God,

in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.

With your faithful help

16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;

according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

29 But I am lowly and in pain;

let your salvation, O God, protect me.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;

I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad;

you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

33 For the LORD hears the needy,

and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

35 For God will save Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah;

36 the children of his servants shall inherit it,

and those who love his name shall live in it.

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic Bibles is one lower than the above.

Psalm 19: 7 - 10   (alt. for Roman Catholic)

Psal 19:7 (NRSV) The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the decrees of the LORD are sure,

making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

the ordinances of the LORD are true

and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey,

and drippings of the honeycomb.

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic Bibles is one lower than the above.

NEW TESTAMENT: Colossians 1: 1 - 14 (all but Roman Catholic)

Colo 1:1 (NRSV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colos'sae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7 This you learned from Ep'aphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

h/t Montreal Anglican

Colossians 1:1-14

Scholars are divided on whether the author is Paul or one of his followers. In the days long before copyright, a writer who thought he really understood how a great writer thought might write in his name: an honour to the great man. If Paul did write Colossians, he probably wrote it from prison (with “Timothy”): there he had time to reflect, and possibly to read. The church in Colossae was probably founded by “Epaphras” (v. 7). Colossians was written to counter deviant teaching, including the need to practice Jewish rituals, and Greek theosophical speculation. Christians there tended to seek power for human life not solely from Christ, but from various sources. They tried to merge traditions.
The letter begins in typical Greek style: the names of the senders (v. 1) and those of the recipients (v. 2), and then a prayer for thanksgiving or of petition (here Christian, vv. 3ff). “The saints” (v. 4) are those set apart for God’s work in the world. Note the triad of “faith ... love ... hope” (vv. 4-5), the steps in coming to know Christ. The community is basically faithful to the good news, as taught by Epaphras. The Church is growing both in Colossae and throughout the Empire (“the whole world”, v. 6). Vv. 9-13 are one sentence in Greek: “we have not ceased ...” “praying”, “asking” and “giving thanks” (v. 12). The “knowledge” in v. 9 is practical: born of experience of a person, i.e. Christ. Perhaps they are to “endure” (v. 11) the false teaching. The opposition of “light” (v. 12) and “darkness” (v. 13) is also found in the Qumran literature. The phrase “forgiveness of sins” (v. 14) occurs only in letters not generally agreed to be by Paul.

Acts 23:26 is the salutation of an ancient Greek letter: “Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings”. [ NOAB]
Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle”: Letters written by Paul (or written in his name) often begin with his claim to apostleship: see Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1. The introductory wording is identical in Ephesians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 1:1. It is very similar in 2 Timothy 1:1. Some questioned Paul’s apostleship: see 1 Corinthians 9:2 (where Paul answers “If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord”) and 2 Corinthians 13:3. [ CAB]
Verse 1: “Timothy”: He was converted during the first missionary journey (see Acts 16:1-3); he appears to have accompanied Paul from then on. He is named as co-author of several letters: see 2 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and Philemon 1. [ CAB]
Verse 2: “To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters”: NJBC offers to the holy and faithful brethren, a significantly different translation. He says that, unlike in other letters (see Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1), holy is an adjective coordinated with “faithful” rather than the substantive “saints”. In the Old Testament, Israel is a holy (qados) people, but qedosim (holy ones) often refers to the heavenly assembly (see, for example, Zechariah 14:5). Members of the Qumran community referred to themselves as the holy ones: see 1QM (War Scroll) 3:5; 6:6; 10:10; 16:1.
Verse 2: “in Christ”: An important theme in Colossians. The phrase signifies the union of the believer with Christ on many levels. See also 1:4, 14, 16-17, 19, 28; 2:3, 6-7, 9-12; 3:18, 20; 4:7. [ NJBC]
Verse 2: “Grace to you and peace”: This phrase combines the Greek and Hebrew salutations. It is also found in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 3. See also 2 Peter 1:2; 2 John 3; Jude 2; Revelation 1:4. [ NOAB] [ CAB]
Verse 3: Ephesians 1:16 expresses the same ideas. [ NOAB]
Verses 4-5: “faith ... love ... hope”: This triad is also found in 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8. These words are in close proximity in Romans 5:1-5; Galatians 5:5-6; Ephesians 4:2-5; Hebrews 6:10-12; 10:22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-8, 21-22. [ NOAB] [ CAB]
Verse 4: Philemon 5 is almost identical (with the clauses reversed). [ NOAB]
Verse 5: “the word of the truth”: In Galatians 2:5, 14, Paul speaks of the “gospel” in these terms. [ CAB]
Verse 6: “bearing fruit”: For the power of the gospel to achieve results, see also Mark 4:20 (the Parable of the Sower) and Luke 8:15. [ CAB]
Verse 7: “Epaphras”: Probably the founder of the Colossian church: see 1:7-8 (“... our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit”) and 4:12 (which tells us that he is with Paul). In Philemon 23, Paul calls him “my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus”. [ NOAB]
Verse 7: “servant”: The Greek word literally means slave . [ CAB]
Verses 9-11: A petition for sensitivity to God’s will, resulting in Christian conduct, and sustained by divine strength. [ NOAB]
Verse 9: “knowledge”: Greeks were keen on knowledge, but not of a practical nature.
Verse 9: “knowledge ... wisdom ... understanding”: The corresponding Greek terms are found frequently in the Qumran literature, e.g.

• 1QH (Hymns) 9:19-21 (Vermes: 1:19-21), where the three terms are connected with the revelation of mysteries (see also Colossians 1:27-28; 2:2-3)
• 1QS (Rule of the Community) 4:2-8, a passage which recounts the way of the Spirit of Truth. and includes humility and forbearance, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, zeal for ordinances, firm inclination and discretion regarding revelation of the mysteries. [ NJBC]

Verse 10: Ephesians 4:1 says : “I ... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called”. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:12: “urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory”. [ CAB]
Verse 11: This verse underscores God’s power, which enables Christians to “endure ... with patience”. Coupled with Paul’s references to sufferings and struggle in 1:24-2:5, the Colossians are being asked to endure in the face of an ominous false teaching which threatens them: see 2:8-23: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ ...”. [ CAB]
Verse 12: “inheritance”: In the Old Testament, the Promised Land: see Joshua 14-19. Ephesians 1:11-12 says “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory”. [ CAB]
Verses 12-13: “share in the inheritance of the saints in the light ... darkness”: This calls to mind teachings in the Qumran literature, for example the ethical dualism of light and darkness and of portion or lot (NRSV: “inheritance”): see 1QM (War Scroll) 13:9-10; 1QH (Hymns) 11:22-23; 14:12-13; 19:11-12 (Vermes: 3:22-23; 6:12-13; 11:11-12). There the portion is the predetermined destiny meted out to humans. It has been suggested that “saints” refers to both the faithful community and to heavenly beings. [ NJBC]
Verse 13: “rescued us”: i.e. from Satan’s power. In Acts 26:17-18, in his defence before Agrippa, Paul states Christ’s words to him during his conversion: “‘I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles – to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me’”. [ NOAB]
Verse 14: “the forgiveness of sins”: The Greek, aphesis hamartion, is not found in undisputedly Pauline letters; it is however found in Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; 10:18. [ NJBC]

GOSPEL: Luke 10: 25 - 37 (all)

Luke 10:25 (NRSV) Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Le'vite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Jesus has prepared disciples for a missionary journey beyond Israel. He has given them advice on how to introduce receptive people to his message of peace and eternal life, to entry into the Kingdom of God.
Perhaps the “lawyer”, a person expert in the interpretation of Jewish law, has heard Jesus’ words about mission to Gentiles. He asks: How much must I do ...? Jesus speaks to him in his terms (v. 26). The lawyer answers with a verse from Deuteronomy and another from Leviticus, both books of the Law (v. 27). Jesus echoes a verse in the Law (v. 28). At the time, Jews debated whether all fellow Jews (or just some) were their neighbours. The lawyer seeks to prove his entitlement to eternal life by defining the limits of his duty to neighbours, but Jesus reinterprets the Law in the story of the Good Samaritan (vv. 30-35). The “priest” (v. 31) stands for Jewish religious leadership; Levites (v. 32) assisted priests in the Temple. The man may be dead; if either touches him, he risks ritual defilement. Each keeps the law literally. Jews saw Samaritans as religious deviants, but they did keep the Law; each group despised each other. So for a Samaritan to risk becoming unclean is to act according to the spirit of the Law rather than the letter. (“Oil and wine”, v. 34, were medications.) In v. 37, the lawyer recognizes that the Samaritan has acted properly (but can’t bring himself to say Samaritan.) The neighbour argument is irrelevant. The lawyer must see behind the Law to love of all. Even non-Jews who demonstrate this love can enter the kingdom

See also Matthew 22:23-40 (some Sadducees ask about the resurrection) and Mark 12:28-31 (the first commandments are to love). [ NOAB] The story of the Good Samaritan is only in Luke.
Verse 25: “a lawyer”: In Matthew 19:16, this question is asked by a Pharisee, in Mark 10:17 by a scribe, and in Luke 18:18 by a “ruler”. [ NOAB] The word Luke uses for “lawyer”, nomikos, is seldom found outside his gospel. The more usual term is grammateus. ^† BlkLk suggests that Luke uses nomikos as an interpretation for the Gentile world.
Verse 25: “what must I do to inherit eternal life”: i.e. what way of life will Jesus guarantee as satisfying God? [ NOAB]
Verse 25 “inherit eternal life”: This phrase also appears in Matthew 19:29. This phrase is synonymous with “inherit the kingdom”: see Matthew 25:34 (the judgement of the nations). [ NOAB]
In Luke, for a Gentile audience, the man asks about “eternal life” but in Matthew and Mark, the question is about the Great Commandment. It seems that Luke’s readers were not particularly concerned with the Law.
Verse 27: The lawyer’s words are a composite of Deuteronomy 6:5 (“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might”) and Leviticus 19:18b (“... you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord’). Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8 (and vv. 29-37 here) implicitly link Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18, stressing the principle that acts of love are the final requirement of the Law. These verses are also combined in Testament of Issachar 5:2; 7:6. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known in Jewish tradition as the Shema, the first word in Hebrew being shema, meaning hear. Rabbinic practice was to associate these two verses. The verse from Leviticus is also quoted in Matthew 5:43; 19:19; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8. [ NOAB] [ BlkLk]
Verse 27: “heart ... soul ... strength ... mind”: Strangely, this enumeration and order of the human faculties follows the Hebrew rather than the Septuagint translation. “And with your mind” is an addition, and the word for “mind” is really an alternative translation of the Hebrew for “heart”. No version of the Old Testament has a form of the commandment in which all four human faculties are mentioned. Perhaps two versions (of the story) were current when Luke wrote, one with “heart” and one with “mind”, and the text adopted may be a conflation of the two. Some manuscripts of Luke omit “and with your mind”. [ BlkLk]
Verse 28: “You have given the right answer”: This is a rabbinic phrase. It is also found in 7:43 (although the NRSV translates it differently). [ BlkLk]
Verse 28: “do this, and you will live”: Leviticus 18:5 says: “You shall keep my statutes and my ordinances; by doing so one shall live: I am the Lord”. In Mark 12:34, Jesus tells a scribe who has identified the most important laws as loving God and your neighbour “‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’”. [ NOAB] See also Galatians 3:12 and Romans 10:5. [ JBC]
Verse 29: “justify himself”: i.e. show himself to be righteous, acceptable to God. See also 18:9-14 (The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector). [ NOAB]
Verse 29: “who is my neighbour?”: In Leviticus 19:18, your neighbour is your fellow Israelite. The definition is extended to include a resident alien in Leviticus 19:33-34. In Luke 18:18-30, Jesus provides a more specifically Christian answer to this question. [ NOAB]
Verse 30: “going down”: The road drops about 1 Km in 19 Km (3300 feet in 12 miles). [ JBC]
Verses 31-32: “priest ... Levite”: Both are law-abiding. [ NJBC]
Verse 33: “Samaritan”: Jews considered Samaritans to be religious apostates. 2 Kings 17:24-34 tells of the resettlement of Samaria by the Assyrians. Samaria was inhabited by mixed remnants of northern tribes who worshipped Yahweh and used the Pentateuch. In Matthew 10:5, the disciples are forbidden to visit Samaritan towns, but here, in Luke 17:11-19 (the leaded Samaritan leper thanks Jesus) and in John 4:4-42 (the Samaritan woman at the well), Jesus is friendly to Samaritans. The mission to the Samaritans was successful: see Acts 8:5-8. [ NOAB]
Verse 34: “oil and wine”: Mixed as an ointment, they were used by both Hellenists and Jews. [ BlkLk]