Daily Readings - Sun Sep 28 2025
Amos
1"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!4"Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,6who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!7Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away."
1 Timothy
11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13I charge you 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,14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Luke
19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.26And 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.'27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--28for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are presented with a powerful message about wealth, justice, and the afterlife. The prophet Amos speaks out against the complacent wealthy who ignore the suffering of others, while the Gospel of Luke shares the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, highlighting the eternal consequences of neglecting the poor. The second reading from 1 Timothy encourages us to pursue justice, piety, and faith, reminding us to fight the good fight of faith.
Amos’ prophecy is set in a time of prosperity for Israel, yet he condemns those who indulge in luxury while the poor suffer. The rich man in Luke’s parable similarly ignores Lazarus at his gate, leading to his torment in the afterlife. These readings remind us that our wealth and resources are not just for our own comfort but are meant to be shared with those in need. The second reading from 1 Timothy complements this by urging us to live virtuously, emphasizing the importance of justice and faith in our daily lives.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own lives. How do we use our resources? Do we turn a blind eye to those in need, or do we actively seek to help them? The moral lesson here is clear: our actions have consequences, and we are called to live with empathy and compassion. Let us strive to use our blessings to serve others, remembering that true wealth lies in our relationship with God and our love for one another.