Scripture Readings

The Season After Pentecost
Proper 25 (20) in Year A
For the Sunday during 23 through 29 October

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

Alternate One:
Old Testament
Psalm

Alternate Two:
Old Testament
Psalm

Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament (Alternate One)

     Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”
     And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
     Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.
     Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
—Deuteronomy 34:1-12, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate One)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
     throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
     or you brought forth the earth and the world,
     from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn men back to dust,
     saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
     are like a day that has just gone by,
     or like a watch in the night.
You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
     they are like the new grass of the morning—
though in the morning it springs up new,
     by evening it is dry and withered.
Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
     Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
     that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
     for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
     your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
     establish the work of our hands for us—
     yes, establish the work of our hands.
—Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17, NIV

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Old Testament (Alternate Two)

      The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
     “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
     “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
     “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
     “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
     “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
—Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate Two)

Blessed is the man
     who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
     or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
     and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
     which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
     Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked!
     They are like chaff
     that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
     nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
     but the way of the wicked will perish.
—Psalm 1, NIV

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Epistle

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
—1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, NIV

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Gospel

      Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
     Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
     While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
     “The son of David,” they replied.
     He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
—Matthew 22:34-46, NIV

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