TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C Lectionary #135
What is our relationship to those in authority? What is a Christian perspective on secular authority, especially the authority to govern?
Intercessions
Today's second reading encourages that “supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,” and especially “for kings and for all in authority.” The Church's tradition of prayer for the whole world is carried on in the general intercessions. Today's liturgy presents liturgy planners and pastoral musicians an opportunity to reflect on the importance of these general intercessions. The intercessions are arranged in a litany style, suggesting at least a sung response. If your community does not regularly sing the response to the general intercessions, you might begin today. Choose one response that you can pray today and for the remaining weeks of Ordinary Time.
Amos 8:4-7. The prophet says that those who abuse authority and “trample upon the needy” will suffer God's punishment, because God will not forget “a thing they have done.”
Psalm of the Day: Ps (112) 113. A hymn that connects God's exaltation with God's power to exalt the poor “to seat them with princes.”
Praise God's Name (Joncas) GC 105/RS 150
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Up the Poor (Guimont) GC 106/RS 151/LPMG 150
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Up the Poor (Janco/Hughes) PRM C95/PMB 716
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Up the Poor (Marchionda) CBW 186
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Up the Poor (Peloquin/Gelineau) WOR 939/LPGG 944
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Ups the Poor (Ridge) MI-BB/GP 256
Praise the Lord Who Lifts Up the Poor (Schiavone) JS 1022/LP 167
Suggested Common Psalm
Ps 25: To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul
1 Timothy 2:1–8: See the suggestions and questions given above about this reading. The focus in this section is God's intent to save everyone. Christians live in the world in a way that reflects this hope.
Luke 16:1–13. You may not believe it when you read this text, but Luke's focus in this section (16:1–31) is on care of the poor and sharing with the needy. The meaning of the story of the “unjust steward” (1–8) has been debated for centuries. Jesus is not praising the steward's unjust manipulation of his master's contracts, but he may be praising the steward's decisive action in a crisis. The story is linked to a saying about the way Christians don't seem to “get it” in terms of kingdom behavior—they are less prudent as “children of light” than people who aren't believers. One form of kingdom prudence is using this world's goods by sharing them with others, especially the poor.
Other Songs for the Liturgy
A Touching Place (1) RS 760/GC 640
Abundant Life (1,G) GC 710/RS 636
All Who Love and Serve Your City (1,G) WOR 621
All You Who Are Thirsty (1,G) GC 501/RS 644/GP 526
Anthem (1,G) GP 578/GC 690/MI-BB/JS 761
At the Table of the World (1,Ps) WC 648/PMB 301/WS 443
Beatitudes (1,G) JS 657/GP 717/MI-BB
Behold a Broken World, We Pray (1,2) CBW 538
Blessed Are the Poor (1,G) WC 925/GP 715
Blest Are They (1,G) GC 659/MI-BB/RS 774/CBW 522/WC 927/WS 665
Canticle of the Turning (1) GC 556/RS 678
Christ, Be Our Light (1,Ps,G) GP 656/JS 551/MI-BB
Christ Is Alive (1) WOR 466/CBW 384/WC 548/RS 601/PMB 258/JS 441
Christ's Peace (1,Ps) JS 844
Come, Let Us Love the Unborn Generations (1,G) WOR 639
Come, Taste and See, v 2 (C) GP 526/JS 818/MI-BB
Come to the Water (1,G) GP 706/GC 502/MI-BB/JS 253,650
For the Healing of the Nations (1,Ps,2,G) WOR 643/WC 913/GC 719/JS 866/MI-BB/RS 823/CBW 503/PMB 505/WS 656
Freedom Is Coming (1) GC 723/RS 821/WC 930/WS 667
From All That Dwell below the Skies (Ps) WOR 521/WC 888/MI-BB/JS 603/GP 682/PMB 483/WS 651
God of Our Fathers/God of All Ages (2) WOR 764/WC 983/RS 966/JS 867
God of the Hungry (1) MI-BB/GP 560
God, Who Gives to Life Its Goodness (G) CBW 559
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (1,G) WOR 631/RS 794/PMB 396
God, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle (1) WOR 640/GC 714/RS 828
I Will Lift Up My Eyes (1,G) JS 646/MI-BB/GC 500/GP 709
I Will Not Die (1,G) JS 658/MI-BB/GC 657/RS 771/GP 716
Let Justice Flow Like Streams (1,G) HG 117
*Let Justice Roll Like a River (1) GC 716
Lift Every Voice and Sing (1,G) LMGM 291/WC 895/GP 561/PMB 487/WS 645
Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace (1,G) WC 856/CBW 630
Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (1) WOR 630/WC 916/GC 681/JS 840/MI-BB/RS 793/CBW 507/GP 557/PMB 508/WS 658
Make Us True Servants (1,G) WC 921/PMB 501/WS 662
Not by Bread Alone (1,G) GC 517
O Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (1,G) WOR 620
Oh, Freedom (1,G) LMGM 298/WS 580
*Praise to the Lord -- Klusmeier (Ps) CBW 568
Priestly People, v 7 (2) WC 750/PMB 383/WS 524
Ps 72: Justice Will Flourish in His Time (1,2,G)
Renew Your People (1,G) RS 786
Send Down the Fire (1,G) GC 466
Shake Up the Morning (1,G) GC 529
Stewards of Earth (G) WC 919/JS 627/CBW 634/PMB 509
The Cry of the Poor (1) GP 203/GC 48/MI-BB/JS 847/RS 69
The Harvest of Justice (1,G) GC 711
Voices That Challenge (1) GC 721
We Are Called (1,G) GC 718/RS 820/WC 781/WS 555
We Are the Light of the World (1,G) WC 914/GC 508/JS 660/MI-BB/GP 657/PMB 506/WS 663
We Gather Together (2) WOR 760/GP 698/BB/GC 571/JS 794/RS 709/WC 865/PMB 468/WS 618
What Does the Lord Require (1,G) WOR 624/RS 785
Whatsoever You Do (1) CBW 717/WC 917/MI-BB/GC 670/JS 846/GP 558/WS 657
When Jesus Came Preaching the Kingdom of God (G) WOR 614/RS 773