Evening Prayer

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

11 The judges also, with their respective names,    whose hearts did not fall into idolatry and who did not turn away from the Lord—    may their memory be blessed! 12 May their bones send forth new life from where they lie, and may the names of those who have been honoured live again in their children! 13 Samuel was beloved by his Lord;    a prophet of the Lord, he established the kingdom    and anointed rulers over his people. 14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation,    and the Lord watched over Jacob. 15 By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet,    and by his words he became known as a trustworthy seer. 16 He called upon the Lord, the Mighty One,    when his enemies pressed him on every side,    and he offered in sacrifice a sucking-lamb. 17 Then the Lord thundered from heaven,    and made his voice heard with a mighty sound; 18 he subdued the leaders of the enemy    and all the rulers of the Philistines. 19 Before the time of his eternal sleep,    Samuel bore witness before the Lord and his anointed: ‘No property, not so much as a pair of shoes,    have I taken from anyone!’    And no one accused him. 20 Even after he had fallen asleep, he prophesied and made known to the king his death, and lifted up his voice from the ground in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.

A Reading from the Gospel According to Luke.

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.