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Proper 28
Closest to November 16 |
| Blessed Lord, who hast
caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may
in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that,
by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior
Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
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Lesson |
Malachi 3:13--4:2a,5-6
"Your words have been stout against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, `How
have we spoken against thee?' You have said, `It is vain to serve God. What
is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before
the LORD of hosts? Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not
only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.'" The Reward of
the Faithful Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another; the LORD
heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of
those who feared the LORD and thought on his name. "They shall be mine, says
the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will
spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall
distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God
and one who does not serve him. The Great Day of the Lord
The Great Day of the Lord
"For behold, the
day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers
will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of
hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who
fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. "Behold, I will send
you Eli'jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse."
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Epistle |
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Warning Against Idleness
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with
the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you
ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat
any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and
day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not
that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even
when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work,
let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere
busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in
the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own
living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing.
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Gospel |
Luke 21:5-19
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and
offerings, he said, "As for these things which you see, the days will come
when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be
thrown down." And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will
be the sign when this is about to take place?" And he said, "Take heed that
you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!'
and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars
and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the
end will not be at once."
Signs and Persecutions
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be
great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there
will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will
lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the
synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors
for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it
therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I
will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be
able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents
and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to
death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your
head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. |
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