FIRST READING Luke 12:13-34
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide
the family inheritance with me.” 14But he said to him, “Friend, who set
me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take
care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not
consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable:
“The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to
himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my
crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and
build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my
goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up
for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You
fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things
you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store
up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” 22 He said to
his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more
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than food and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they
neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God
feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And
which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If
then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry
about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive
today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he
clothe you, you of little faith! 29 And do not keep seeking what you are to
eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the
nations of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows
that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be
given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your
Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions
and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an
unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Reader: Word of God. Word of Life.