Sunday 26 September, 2022

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time                               

Readings are laid out as for the continuous form of the lectionary. Alternative related readings (OT and psalm only) are below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading

Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15

*All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
Make us your prophets, Lord (StF 665)
Thank you, O God, for the time that is now (StF 478)
When deep despair casts out all light (StF 399)
You showed us mercy when we were in darkness (StF 488)

Psalm 91: 1-6, 14-16

Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme

*All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart (StF 545)
Captain of Israel’s host, and Guide (StF 459)
Jesus, lover of my soul (StF 355)
Though the fruit tree doesn’t blossom (StF 93)

1 Timothy 6: 6-19

A charge to keep I have (StF 658)
As the glory of creation (StF 725)
Author of faith, eternal Word (StF 457)
Fight the good fight with all your might (StF 634)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise (StF 55)
Of all the Spirit’s gifts to me (StF 709)
Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armour on (StF 637)
We plough the fields, and scatter (StF 130)

Luke 16: 19-31

As we gather, Father, seal us  (StF 570)
For the healing of the nations, Lord we pray with one accord (StF 696)
God is love: let heaven adore him (StF 103)
*Heaven shall not wait for the poor to lose their patience (StF 701)
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love (StF 249)
My God, I am thine (StF 80)
When I needed a neighbour, were you there? (StF 256)

Alternative related readings

Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

*Heaven shall not wait for the poor to lose their patience (StF 701)
In an age of twisted values (StF 703)
O God of hope, your prophets spoke (StF 708)
Pray for a world where every child finds welcome in a sheltered space (StF 527)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (StF 186)

Psalm 146

Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme

Here on the threshold of a new beginning  (StF 684)
I'll praise my Maker while I've breath (StF 79)
O for a thousand tongues to sing (StF 364)
Sing  for God's glory (StF 116)
Sing  praise to God who reigns above (StF 117)

The rich man of the Gospel reading exemplifies the dangers of a love of riches to which Paul refers in the Epistle. Amos portrays that decadence. Using Psalm 146 (StF 837) today illustrates Paul’s right use of riches (v17b-18) in the actions of God . Happy are those whose hope is in the richness of God’s love.

Jeremiah’s purchase of the field at Anathoth gives the hope to his people that the rich man denied Lazarus. If both the Jeremiah and Amos passages were read today that would reveal the contrast between those who “are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph” and Jeremiah who was!  Psalm 91 speaks of the trust that Jeremiah has in God who will rescue him (those) in trouble and bring him (them) to honour.