Jesus says, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” It is God’s promise from the beginning—to Abraham, to the early church, and to the “little flock” of which we are a part today in assembly. Faith, God’s baptismal gift, trusts the promises of God. Have no fear.
Readings and Psalm
-
Genesis 15:1-6
God’s promise of a child for Abram and Sarai -
Psalm 33:12-22
Let your lovingkindness be upon us, as we place our hope in you. (Ps. 33:22) -
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
A model for us: Abraham’s faith in a new home given by God -
Luke 12:32-40
God will give you the treasure of the kingdom; sell all that you have
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
God promises childless and aging Abram that a child of his own will be his heir and that his descendants will number as many as the stars. Abram trusts God’s promise, and through this faith he is considered righteous.1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-22
Let your lovingkindness be upon us, as we place our hope in you. (Ps. 33:22)12Happy is the nation whose God | is the Lord!
Happy the people chosen to | be God’s heritage!
13The Lord looks | down from heaven,
and sees all | humankind.
14God sits firmly en- | throned and watches
all who dwell | on the earth.
15God fashions | all their hearts
and observes | all their deeds.
16A king is not saved by the size | of the army,
nor are warriors rescued by | their great strength.
17The horse gives vain | hope for victory;
despite its great strength it | cannot save.
18Truly, your eye is upon those who fear | you, O Lord,
upon those who wait for your | steadfast love,
19to deliver their | lives from death,
and to keep them alive in | time of famine.
20Our innermost being waits for | you, O Lord,
our helper | and our shield.
21Surely, our heart rejoic- | es in you,
for in your holy name we | put our trust.
22Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, | be upon us,
even as we place our | hope in you.
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Abraham and
Sarah exemplify the vision of faith that people of God enact in every
age. Their hope and trust in God’s promise allowed them to face an
unknown future and to receive the promise of God.1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By
faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God,
so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
8By faith
Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was
going. 9By faith he
stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign
land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him
of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By
faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and
Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had
promised. 12Therefore
from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born,
“as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by
the seashore.”
13All of
these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a
distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were
strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But
as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has
prepared a city for them.
Gospel: Luke 12:32-40
Jesus
encourages disciples to invest their hearts and live fully into God’s
reign. Instead of facing life with fear, those who know God’s generosity
are always ready to receive from God and to give to others.
[Jesus said:] 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell
your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not
wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near
and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be
like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding
banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and
knocks. 37Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell
you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will
come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39“But know
this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was
coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”