26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C:  September 29, 2013

First Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

A Castle on Viola Street by DyAnne DiSalvo

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment:  Frank M. Yamada explains that Jeremiah’s action is symbolic of God’s word for the people.  “Today’s passage reminds us God is invested in the future destiny of humankind… God’s people would be restored and would again thrive in the land. Perilous times require the faithful to put into embodied action the hope that God has announced, which is already here, but not yet.” (http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=743) A Castle on Viola Street is the story of an organization like Habitat for Humanity, that brings together families and volunteers to create houses for people who need them. Like Jeremiah’s purchase of the field, the work done to the abandoned houses on Viola Street is an embodied action of hope for the future. This text and story invite us to wonder about the ways we embody God’s hope in the midst of perilous and difficult times.

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

The Shaking Bag by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” When reading this text, consider it an invitation to share stories of people who embody this way of life described in the epistle. The Shaking Bag is one example of someone who is rich in good works. Though Miss Annie Mae is very poor, she shares everything she has. Because of her generosity, there is always enough. Through her kindness, Miss Annie Mae takes hold of the life that really is life.

Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Humble Pie by Jennifer Donnelly

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: We might wonder if specific actions led to the rich man’s torment in death. Perhaps he was greedy with his wealth or failed to see the humanity of others in people such as Lazarus. Certainly his action in Hades, when he seeks for Lazarus to serve him, might suggest this to be the case. In Humble Pie, Theo, like the rich man, wants for nothing and has more than he needs. We learn what overabundance and a spoiled life does to Theo: “The more he got, the more he wanted. He became demanding and arrogant. Selfish. Thoughtless. Inconsiderate…” Finally his grandmother helps him to change his heart with a nice big humble pie. Perhaps Jesus is calling those of us in similar situations to the rich man and Theo to taste a little humble pie and refocus our attention and efforts, to repent of our own selfishness,

The Lectionary Links this week are written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook.

Lectionary Links: Sunday, September 29, 2013 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.