Sunday between 9 and 15 October    

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading - Amos 5.6-7, 10-15

A reading from the book of the prophet Amos. Now is the time to seek the Lord, and live. For the Lord is preparing to sweep through the nation like a fire. For you replace justice with poison, and you trample righteousness to the ground. You despise those who challenge you, and all who speak the truth. And you trample on the poor, with taxes on all that they produce. And so, the Lord says this: you have built fine stone houses, but you will not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink their wine. For I know all your offences, and the number of your crimes: how you take bribes, persecute the innocent, and deny justice to the needy. The prudent say nothing, for it is indeed an evil time. You say that the Lord God is with you - so turn to pursue good, and not evil, that the Lord God may indeed be with you, and you may live! Hate all that is evil, love all that is good, establish justice in your courts, and the Lord God of hosts may yet have mercy upon you! This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Hebrews 4.12-16

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews. The word of God is living and active. Sharper than a sword, it pierces into the soul and the spirit, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. None can hide from it, for everything will be seen when we are called to give an account before God. But we have a great high priest, who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God. And he is able to sympathise with our weakness, for he himself has been tested, in every way, as we are - yet without sin. So let us trust in him, and approach the throne of grace with confidence, trusting that we will find grace, mercy, and salvation. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Mark 10.17-31

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up to him, and knelt down before him, asking, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good, but God alone. And you know the commandments: that you shall not murder, or commit adultery, or steal, or bear false witness, or defraud; and to honour your father and mother.’ The man said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept since my youth.’ Jesus looked at him with compassion, and said, ‘You lack one thing. Go, and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was dismayed, for he had many possessions; and he went away grieving. Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were taken aback at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ The disciples said to one another, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them, and said, ‘For mortals, it is impossible; but for God, all things are possible.’ Peter said to Jesus, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly, I tell you, all who have left home, mother, father, brothers, sisters, children, livelihood, or inheritance, for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will receive them back, a hundred times over, even now, in this present age - though with persecutions - and in the age to come, will have eternal life. But many who are first now, will be last; and many who are last, will be first.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.