29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ex 17:8-13

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick out certain men,
and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So
Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of
the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his
hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his
people with the edge of the sword.

Second Reading: 2 Tim 3:14-4:2

Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from
infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who
belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will
judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or
inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Gospel: Lk 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a
judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true
that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest
she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of
his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for
them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 2 Kgs 5:14-17
Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy. Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant." Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;" and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused. Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD."

Second Reading: 2 Tim 2:8-13
Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel: Lk 17:11-19
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

1) What is a word or phrase that stuck out?
2) What is the message of the reading?
3) How does this reading challenge you to live for Christ?