Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Join us on October 26, 2025, for Morning Prayer at 9:00 AM for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025, at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 216 E Chandler Blvd, Burlington, WI.

Join us for worship in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person, via Live Stream, through Video Replay, or as a Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025!

We understand that you cannot always join us in person; that is why we offer you our

Live Stream/Playback

We go live at 8:50 AM if you want to hear the organ prelude, or join us at 9 AM when we start the opening hymn. The video is available right after we conclude the service.

Podcast

We strive to produce our podcast as quickly as possible, typically by Sunday afternoon. However, it may take a bit longer for the episode to show up in your favorite podcast player. Did you know that we are available on all major platforms?

Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace.

Check out some other past podcasts!

The Collect for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Readings for Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Proper 25, Track 2

Old Testament: Sirach 35:12–17

12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford.
13 For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.
14 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
15 and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality.
16 He will not show partiality to the poor; but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

or Jeremiah 14:7–10, 19–22

7 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.
8 O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?
9 Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and your name calls us; do not forsake us!
10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
19 Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.

Psalm 84:1–6

1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts!
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young;
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell in your house!
they will always be praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you!
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs,
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6 They will climb from height to height,
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.

The Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18

6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!
17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

9 Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Reflection on the Reading for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Old Testament – Sirach 35:12-17 (or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22): The passage from Sirach highlights the importance of giving generously to God based on one’s means, while cautioning against accepting bribes and making dishonest sacrifices. It emphasizes that God shows no favoritism but pays special attention to the prayers of the wronged, orphans, and widows. In contrast, the alternative reading from Jeremiah expresses sorrow over the people’s sins and their turning away from God, while pleading for Him not to abandon them despite their shortcomings.

Psalm 84:1-6: This psalm expresses a profound longing for God’s dwelling place and describes the joy experienced by those who worship in His house. It celebrates individuals whose strength comes from God and who are on a pilgrimage. Even desolate valleys are transformed into places of springs and renewal for them.

Epistle – 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18: Paul, facing the end of his life, reflects on his unwavering service, describing himself as “poured out like a libation.” He expresses confidence in receiving “the crown of righteousness”. He acknowledges that, although everyone abandoned him during his defense, the Lord remained by his side and gave him the strength to proclaim the message.

Gospel – Luke 18:9-14: In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple, Jesus highlights two contrasting attitudes. The self-righteous Pharisee boasts about his religious accomplishments, proudly listing his good deeds. In contrast, the humble tax collector appeals for mercy, acknowledging his shortcomings. Jesus concludes that the tax collector went home justified, emphasizing that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The central theme focuses on humility, authentic faith, and God’s favor toward the humble and contrite, rather than the self-righteous.