|
Proper 21
Closest to September 28 |
| O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of
thy grace, that we, running to obtain thy promises, may be
made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
|
Lesson |
Amos 6:1-7
Complacent Self-Indulgence Will Be Punished
"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on
the mountain of Sama'ria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to
whom the house of Israel come! Pass over to Calneh, and see; and thence go to Hamath the great; then go
down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms? Or is
their territory greater than your territory, O you who put far away the evil day, and bring near the seat of violence? "Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon
their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the midst of
the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David invent for
themselves instruments of music; who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but
are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into exile, and the
revelry of those who stretch themselves shall pass away." |
|
Epistle |
1 Timothy 6:11-19
The Good Fight of Faith
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to
which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of
many witnesses. In the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus
who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and
only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no
man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set
their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with
everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that
they may take hold of the life which is life indeed. |
|
Gospel |
Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
"There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who
feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover
the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The
rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham
far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am
in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your
good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is
comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed,
in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and
none may cross from there to us.' And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come
into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.' And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the
dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'" |
|
