Bible Readings - Oct. 26, 2025

Reading 1

Sirach 35:15-23

Do not trust in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion,

For he is a God of justice,

who shows no partiality.

He shows no partiality to the weak

but hears the grievance of the oppressed.

He does not forsake the cry of the orphan,

nor the widow when she pours out her complaint.

Do not the tears that stream down her cheek

cry out against the one that causes them to fall?

Those who serve God to please him are accepted;

their petition reaches the clouds.

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;

it does not rest till it reaches its goal;

Nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,

judges justly and affirms the right.

God indeed will not delay,

and like a warrior, will not be still

Till he breaks the backs of the merciless

and wreaks vengeance upon the nations;

Till he destroys the scepter of the proud,

and cuts off the staff of the wicked;

Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,

to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,

and from all their distress he rescues them.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

Reading 2

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

For I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat

and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

see 2 Corinthians 5:19

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

not counting their trespasses against them

and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

He then addressed this parable

to those who were convinced of their own righteousness

and despised everyone else.

"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;

one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --

greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.'

But the tax collector stood off at a distance

and would not even raise his eyes to heaven

but beat his breast and prayed,

'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;

for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."