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The readings below are for Sunday, August 20, 2017:
Today's Epistle reading [1 Corinthians 9.2-12]:
If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for
you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
This is my defense to those who would examine
me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the
other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from
working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of
its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Do I say this on human
authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses,"You shall not muzzle an
ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our
sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share
in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others
share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more?
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The Gospel reading for today
[Matthew 18.23-35]:
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished
to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand
talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment
to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant,
as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said,
'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He
refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place,
they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned
him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have
had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he
should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother
from your heart."
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