TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C Lectionary #129

“Wisdom” in the Bible is practical wisdom: the insight into things that allows us to make the right decision that is still in accord with God's will. The readings today offer three aspects of practical wisdom.

Wisdom 9:13-18b. It's hard to be wise, even about things that directly concern us: “Scarce do we guess the things on earth.” Imagine, then, the challenge of trying to understand God's will and put it into practice.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (89) 90. In the light of human mortality, the psalmist prays for wisdom. This same psalm was used with a different antiphon on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In Every Age, O Lord (Englert/Gelineau) WOR 933/RS 120/LPGG 938

In Every Age, O Lord (Guimont) GC 83/LPMG 144

In Every Age, O Lord (Janco) PRM C93/PMB 710

In Every Age, O Lord (Schiavone) JS 1016/LP 161

In Every Age, O Lord (Smith) GP 228/SP5 44/MI-BB

O Lord, You Have Been Our Refuge (O'Carroll/Hughes) CBW 165

Señor, Tu Has Sido Nuestro Refugio (Palazón) FYC 230

Suggested Common Psalm

Ps (18) 19: Lord, You Have the Words

Philemon 9-10, 12-17. This shortest of Paul's letters is also one of the most challenging—and the only letter addressed to a woman (it is addressed to “Apphia our sister” as well as Philemon and Archippus). Paul is writing to Philemon and his family on behalf of the runaway slave Onesimus who has become a Christian and is now returning to his Christian owner. What's the wise thing to do in a situation like this?

Luke 14:25-33. By offering an extreme example, Jesus calls on potential disciples to be clear about what discipleship can require. Two practical examples of wise choice follow, and the selection concludes with another extreme challenge.

Other Songs for the Liturgy

A Follower of Christ (G) LMGM 117

All Praise to God (1,G) CBW 547

All That Is Hidden (G) GP 585/JS 762/MI-BB

*As the Deer Longs (C) WC 386/WS 295/PMB 150/JS 42, 696/GP 207/MI-BB

Disciple's Song (G) CBW 505

Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether (2) WOR 731/RS 917/JS 797/MI-BB

Eye Has Not Seen (1,G) GC 638/WC 838/MI-BB/RS 758/CBW 482/WS 596

For God Risk Everything (G) HG 26

Great God, We Lift Our Hearts (1,Ps) CBW 552

Holy Wisdom, Lamp of Learning (1) JS 774

*I Am the Light of the World (C) JS 664/GP 658/GC 510/MI-BB

I Bind My Heart (G) GC 668/RS 790

I Danced in the Morning (G) WOR 636/GC 708/MI-BB/WC 723/JS 764/RS 809/GP 395/PMB 366/WS 498

*I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, v 3 (C) WC 835/ WS 601/JS 729/GP 633/RS 768/GC 646/ WOR 607/ LMGM 41, 160/MI-BB

I Say "Yes," Lord/Digo "Sí," Señor (G) GC 597/RS 722

I Sing the Mighty Power of God (1) WOR 502/GP 608/MI-BB/JS 635/RS 633/CBW 541/PMB 351/WC 556

I Surrender All (G) LMGM 235

I Will Choose Christ (G) GP 459/JS 775/MI-BB

In the Cross of Christ (G) RS 221

*In Every Age B Whitaker (Ps) JS 727/MI-BB

Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring (1) JS 669/LMGM 269/MI-BB/WC 717/PMB 357

Keep in Mind (G) WC 802/MI-BB/GC 674/JS 589/RS 940/GP 492/PMB 36/WS 567

Lift High the Cross (G) WOR 704/CBW 435/WC 778/MI-BB/GC 791/JS 522/RS 884/GP 444/PMB 393/WS 549

Lord of Creation, to You Be All Praise (1,G) CBW 498

Lord, to Whom Shall We Go (G) GP 663

Now We Remain (G) WC 642/GC 694/MI-BB/RS 813/WS 457

*O God, for You I Long (C) JS 688/GP 206/MI-BB

*O God, Our Help in Ages Past (Ps) WOR 579/WC 823/CBW 644/GP 613/LMGM 230/MI-BB/GC 614/JS 705/RS 735/PMB 435/WS 589

O the Beautiful Treasures (1,G) WOR 689

Only This I Want (G) GP 575/GC 695/CBW 516/JS 766/MI-BB

Open My Eyes (1) JS 695/MI-BB

Pescador de Hombres/Lord, When You Came (G) JS 763/LMGM 116/MI-BB/WC 769/GC 696/RS 817/GP 580/WS 551

Ps 16: The Path of Life (1,Ps)

Ps 19: Lord, You Have the Words (1,G)

Ps 25: Teach Me Your Ways (1,G)

*Ps 42: As the Deer Longs (C)

*Remember Your Love -- Dameans, v 5 (Ps) GC 881/GP 474/MI-BB/RS 550/JS 561

*Restless Is the Heart (1,Ps) MI-BB/GP 483

Seek the Lord (1,G) GP 351/JS 558/RS 540/MI-BB

Servant Song B McGargill (G) GP 550/JS 837/MI-BB

Show Us the Path of Life (1,Ps) GC 645

*Song of Longing (C) GC 51

Speak, Lord (1,G) MI-BB

Speak Now, O Lord (1,G) WC 758/WS 530

*Take Up Your Cross (G) WOR 634/CBW 353/LMGM 50/MI-BB/GC 698/WC 510/JS 524/RS 808/GP 586/PMB 238/WS 378

The Summons (G) RS 811/GC 570/WC 785/WS 538/MI-BB

Two Fishermen (G) WOR 633/GC 688/RS 812

We Have No Glory (G) JS 671

We Praise You -- Dameans (1) GP 677/GC 541/MI-BB/RS 694/CBW 633/JS 626

We Will Journey in Faith (1,G) JS 552/MI-BB

We Will Serve the Lord (G) GC 665

Where He Leads Me (G) LMGM 120

*Wherever He Leads (G) LMGM 50/RS 810

Who Can Measure Heaven and Earth (1) RS 645

Wisdom's Feast (1) PMB 298/WC 620/WS 436

You Are the Way (1,G) CBW 441/WC 711/PMB 365/WS 512/MI-BB

You Have Called Us (G) JS 540/MI-BB