Daily Readings - Sun Sep 28 2025
Amos
1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!4That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;5That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.7Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
1 Timothy
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Luke
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose 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.