Proper 21 (26)

6Verse 6. Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7Verse 7. For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. 8Verse 8. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9Verse 9. Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10Verse 10. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11Verse 11. But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12Verse 12. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. 13Verse 13. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: 14Verse 14. Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Verse 15. which the blessed and only Sovereign One— the King of kings and Lord of lords— will bring about in His own time. 16Verse 16. He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 17Verse 17. Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. 18Verse 18. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, 19Verse 19. treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

19Verse 19. Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20Verse 20. And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21Verse 21. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22Verse 22. One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. 23Verse 23. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. 24Verse 24. So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ 25Verse 25. But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26Verse 26. And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’ 27Verse 27. ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28Verse 28. for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’ 29Verse 29. But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’ 30Verse 30. ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31Verse 31. Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”