Sunday between 4 and 10 September
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
First Reading - Deuteronomy 30.15-20
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy. Today I set before you life and prosperity, or death and adversity. If you love the Lord your God, and keep the commandments of the Lord your God, you will live, and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you, in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away, and you do not hear and receive these words, but instead allow yourselves to be led astray, to bow down to other gods, and serve them, I declare today that you will perish; that you will not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call on heaven and earth to serve as witnesses today, as I set before you the choice of life or death, of blessing or adversity. Now choose life, for yourselves, and your descendants, by loving, trusting, and holding fast to the Lord your God. For the Lord is your life. And so may you live long in the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors - to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the word of the Lord.Second Reading - Philemon 10,12-17
A reading from the letter of Paul to Philemon. I am writing to appeal to you regarding Onesimus, who has become like a son to me during my imprisonment. In sending him back to you, I am sending my own heart. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he could be of service to me, while I remain in chains for the gospel; but I preferred not to make any such decision without your consent, so that your goodness could be voluntary, and not imposed upon you.Perhaps Onesimus was even
separated from you
for a while
so that you could receive him back
for ever;
and receive him back
no longer as a servant,
but as a dear brother,
both as a fellow human being,
and as a brother in the Lord.
As he has been very dear
to me,
may he now be
even more dear
to you.
I ask you to welcome him
as you would welcome me.
This is the word of the Lord.