03/22 – Luke 21:1-4 – Red Letter Challenge- Giving

Old Testament Reading: Malachi 3:6-12

“I the Lord never change. That is why you descendants of Jacob have not yet been destroyed. Since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my laws and have not followed them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies.

You ask, “How can we return?”

“Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me!”

You ask, “How are we cheating you?”

“When you do not bring a tenth of your income and other contributions. So a curse is on you because the whole nation is cheating me. Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings. Then, for your sake, I will stop insects from eating your crops. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your fields will not lose their unripened grapes,” says the Lord of Armies. “All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Armies.

Epistle Reading: Romans 11:33-36

Behold God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge. They are so deep it is impossible to understand his judgments or to comprehend his ways. Who knows the thoughts of the Lord? Who can become his adviser?” 35 Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back? Everything is from him, and by him, and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

Holy Gospel: Luke 21:1-4

Looking up, Jesus saw wealthy people putting their gifts into the Temple offering box. He then saw a poor widow put in two small coins. He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of these people have given what they could spare but she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”