Lectionary Readings for Sunday, October 9, 2011
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011 | AFTER PENTECOST
PROPER 23
YEAR A
Old Testament & Psalm
Old Testament Exodus 32:1–14
Psalm Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
New Testament
New Testament Philippians 4:1-9
Gospel Matthew 22:1-14
OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 32:1–14
Chapter 32
1 When the people became aware of Moses’ delay in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will be our leader; as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.”
2 Aaron replied, “Have your wives and sons and daughters take off the golden earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron,
4 who accepted their offering, and fashioning this gold with a graving tool, made a molten calf. Then they cried out, “This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
5 On seeing this, Aaron built an altar before the calf and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is a feast of the LORD.”
6 Early the next day the people offered holocausts and brought peace offerings. Then they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.
7 With that, the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.
8 They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
9 I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the LORD to Moses.
10 “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.”
11 But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people.
13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’”
14 So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
PSALM
Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
Chapter 106
1 Hallelujah
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose love endures forever.
2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
proclaim in full God’s praise?
3 Happy those who do what is right,
whose deeds are always just.
4 Remember me, LORD, as you favor your people;
come to me with your saving help,
5 That I may see the prosperity of your chosen,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your heritage.
6 We have sinned like our ancestors;
we have done wrong and are guilty.
IV
19 At Horeb they fashioned a calf,
worshiped a metal statue.
20 They exchanged their glorious God
for the image of a grass-eating bull.
21 They forgot the God who saved them,
who did great deeds in Egypt,
22 Amazing deeds in the land of Ham,
fearsome deeds at the Red Sea.
23 He would have decreed their destruction,
had not Moses, the chosen leader,
Withstood him in the breach.
to turn back his destroying anger.
NEW TESTAMENT
Philippians 4:1–9
Chapter 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to a mutual understanding in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!
5 Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.
6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
GOSPEL
Matthew 22:1–14
Chapter 22
1 Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.
4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, † and the hall was filled with guests.
11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence.
13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
