Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Amos 6:1, 4-7 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Amos

You who give yourself to licentiousness and revelry will be exiled.

The almighty Lord says this:

Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion

and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria.

Lying on ivory beds

and sprawling on their divans,

they dine on lambs from the flock,

and stall-fattened veal;

they bawl to the sound of the harp,

they invent new instruments of music like David,

they drink wine by the bowlful,

and use the finest oil for anointing themselves,

but about the ruin of Joseph they do not care at all.

That is why they will be the first to be exiled;

the sprawlers’ revelry is over.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Amos 6:1, 4-7 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Amos

Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:

“Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria!

“Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,

and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock,

and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

“Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

and the revelry of those who lie in ease shall pass away.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 145:6-10 (JB)

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

or

R. Alleluia!

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,

who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free. R.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down.

It is the Lord who loves the just,

the Lord, who protects the stranger. R.

He upholds the widow and orphan

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age. R.

1 Timothy 6:11-16 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Timothy

Obey the commandments until the coming of the Lord.

As a man dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses. Now, before God the source of all life and before Jesus Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate, I put to you the duty of doing all that you have been told, with no faults or failures, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who at the due time will be revealed

by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all,

the King of kings and the Lord of lords,

who alone is immortal,

whose home is in inaccessible light,

whom no man has seen and no man is able to see:

to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Timothy 6:11-16 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to Timothy

As for you, Timothy, man of God;

pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, endurance, gentleness.

Fight the good fight of the faith;

take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called

and for which 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 without spot or blame

until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which he will bring about at the right time.

He is the blessed and only Sovereign,

the King of kings and Lord of lords.

It is he alone who has immortality

and dwells in unapproachable light,

whom no one has ever seen or can see;

to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor,

to make you rich out of his poverty.

Alleluia!

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor,

to make you rich out of his poverty.

Alleluia!

Luke 16:19-31 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

During your life good things came your way just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted while you are in agony.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”

‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham, “let them listen to them.” “Ah, no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”‘

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus told this parable

to those among the Pharisees who loved money:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen

and who feasted sumptuously every day.

And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who longed to satisfy his hunger

with what fell from the rich man’s table;

even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

“The poor man died

and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried.

In Hades, where he was being tormented,

he looked up and saw Abraham far away

with Lazarus by his side.

He called 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 these flames.’

“But Abraham said,

‘Child, remember that during your lifetime

you received your good things,

and Lazarus in like manner evil things;

but now he is comforted here,

and you are in agony.

Besides all this,

between you and us a great chasm has been fixed,

so that those who might want to pass from here to you

cannot do so,

and no one can cross from there to us.’

“The man who had been rich said,

‘Then, father, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house-

for I have five brothers-

that he may warn them,

so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied,

‘They have Moses and the prophets;

they should listen to them.’

He said, ‘No, father Abraham;

but if someone goes to them from the dead,

they will repent.’

Abraham said to him,

‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be convinced

even if someone rises from the dead.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.