The difficult dilemma -- riches or righteousness
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Based Upon Cycle C Lectionary Gospels
Gospel Theme:
The difficult dilemma -- riches or righteousness
Gospel Note:
The parable of the unjust steward (who is ''too weak to dig and too proud to beg''!) and the sayings, which here serve as a commentary on it, culminate in a difficult dilemma, that in turn demands a decision. This passage presents an opportunity to address what must be a touchy subject for our modern capitalistic ears: the incompatibility of riches and righteousness that runs as a recurring theme throughout the teachings of Jesus (especially in Luke), and that is 'spiritualized'' only at the expense of veracity.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Salvation Unto Us Has Come
All Depends On Our Possessing
O Trinity, O Blessed Light
Your Kingdom Come, O Father
Lord, Teach Us How To Pray Aright
Son Of God, Eternal Savior
114
Proper 20 -- Pentecost 18 -- OT 25
The steward was in trouble, Lord!
He had been caught wasting his master's goods.
Then, through dishonest measures, he scrambled to
secure favors from others.
When the master figured out what was going on he
commended the steward for his shrewdness, but he
still fired him!
There is no substitute for integrity.
Lord, you have made us rich by the standards
which really count.
Teach us to use the wealth of our talents and
abilities with all of the skill which we can
muster.
Help us to apply our fullest attention to detail
and all of our best efforts to the mission field
which is our daily life.
Make us faithful in all matters, large and small.
Help us to remember that while many masters
compete for our attention, you alone are worthy
to be called Lord.
Amen.
115
The difficult dilemma -- riches or righteousness
Gospel Note:
The parable of the unjust steward (who is ''too weak to dig and too proud to beg''!) and the sayings, which here serve as a commentary on it, culminate in a difficult dilemma, that in turn demands a decision. This passage presents an opportunity to address what must be a touchy subject for our modern capitalistic ears: the incompatibility of riches and righteousness that runs as a recurring theme throughout the teachings of Jesus (especially in Luke), and that is 'spiritualized'' only at the expense of veracity.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Salvation Unto Us Has Come
All Depends On Our Possessing
O Trinity, O Blessed Light
Your Kingdom Come, O Father
Lord, Teach Us How To Pray Aright
Son Of God, Eternal Savior
114
Proper 20 -- Pentecost 18 -- OT 25
The steward was in trouble, Lord!
He had been caught wasting his master's goods.
Then, through dishonest measures, he scrambled to
secure favors from others.
When the master figured out what was going on he
commended the steward for his shrewdness, but he
still fired him!
There is no substitute for integrity.
Lord, you have made us rich by the standards
which really count.
Teach us to use the wealth of our talents and
abilities with all of the skill which we can
muster.
Help us to apply our fullest attention to detail
and all of our best efforts to the mission field
which is our daily life.
Make us faithful in all matters, large and small.
Help us to remember that while many masters
compete for our attention, you alone are worthy
to be called Lord.
Amen.
115
