Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - C - September 25, 2022

1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
4 Who lie on beds of ivory,
and stretch themselves on their couches,
and eat the lambs out of the flock,
and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5 who strum on the strings of a harp;
who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
6 who drink wine in bowls,
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive;
and the feasting and lounging will end.

1 Hallelujah!
Praise YHWH, my soul.
2 While I live, I will praise YHWH.
I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
3 Don't put your trust in princes,
each a son of man in whom there is no help.
4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth.
In that very day, his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in YHWH, his God:
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps truth forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
YHWH frees the prisoners.
8 YHWH opens the eyes of the blind.
YHWH raises up those who are bowed down.
YHWH loves the righteous.
9 YHWH preserves the foreigners.
He upholds the fatherless and widow,
but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 YHWH will reign forever;
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Hallelujah.

11 Run away from sin, man of God. Instead, go after the right way to life. Pray and trust in God. Love God and other people. Be kind and patient with others. 12 Fight for the good things you believe in. Hold on to the eternal life God called you to. This is the life you said "yes" to in front of many Christians. 13 So, I give you this order in front of God who wants to save everyone, and in front of Jesus Christ who even told Pontius Pilate about God. 14 Keep your promise to God pure. Make sure no one can criticize you about it. Do this until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 15 He will come at the right time to show God is true and blessed ruler. He is the King over all other kings, and the Lord over all other lords. 16 He is the only one who is immortal, for he lives in a light no one can approach. In fact, no man has seen it. And no one is able to see it. May honor and power be with God forever. Amen!

11 But you, man of God, flee (from all vice). Pursue righteousness, piety, and faith, love, patient endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for faith, grasp the eternal life into which you were called and having confessed the good confession before many witnesses. 13 I order [you] before God, the one saving everyone, and CHRIST JESUS, the (ONE) having witnessed the good confession to Pontius Pilate, 14 to keep your commission, stainless, above reproach, until the appearance of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, 15 which, at the definitive right time, will show the blessed and only (ruler) of power, the King of the (ones) being kings, and the Lord of the (ones) being lords, 16 the only (One) having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, which no one among men saw, nor is able to see. To (him be) honor and eternal strength. Amen.

Jesus told his followers:

19 Once, there was a rich man. He dressed in fine clothes and threw expensive parties every day. 20 There was also a poor man, named Lazarus, who laid begging at the gate of the rich man's mansion. 21 Lazarus was so hungry he dreamed of eating the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Lazarus had so many sores on his body, the dogs would come and lick them.

22-23 Soon, both men died. Lazarus went to heaven with Father Abraham. But the rich man was punished in hell. When the rich man looked up, he saw Father Abraham and Lazarus in the distance. 24 "Father Abraham," the rich man called out, "have mercy on me. Send Lazarus here so he can dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. These flames are hurting me!"

25 "My child, remember! You took only the fine things in life," Abraham replied, "while Lazarus suffered evil. Now, he enjoys heaven, and you suffer. 26 Besides, there is a huge distance between you and me, so huge that no one could go from here to there even if he wanted to. And no one can go from where you are to here."

27-28 "Then, please, Father!" the rich man begged Abraham. "Send Lazarus to my five brothers. He can warn them so they won't come to this place of pain!"

29 "They have Moses and the prophets in the Bible," Abraham responded. "Your brothers should listen to their words."

30 "No, Father Abraham!" the rich man cried out. "If someone from the dead visits my brothers, they will turn back to God!"

31 "If they don't hear the words of Moses or the prophets," Abraham said, "how will they be convinced if someone rose from the dead?"

Jesus told his disciples

19 (Once) there was a man who (always) wore purple and (fine) linen, feasting splendidly every day. 20 But, a poor (man) named Lazarus had been laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be satisfied with the falling (scraps) from the table of the rich (man). Arriving, the dogs kept licking his sores. 22 It happened that the poor (man) died and that he was carried away to the bosom of Abraham. The rich (man) also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, having lifted up his eyes, being in torment, (the rich man) saw Abraham in the distance (with) Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Having called out, he said, "Father Abraham! Have mercy on me! Send Lazarus so that he might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, since I agonize in these flames!" 25 But Abraham said, "Child, remember that you received your blessings in your lifetime, and Lazarus likewise (life's) curses. Now, he is comforted, while you are in torment. 26 Besides all this, between us and (all of) you, a great abyss has been set so that those wanting to go from here to you are not able, and those from there to us (can) not cross over." 27 He said "Then I beg you, Father, that you might send him to my father's house 28 since I have five brothers, so that he might thoroughly warn them, lest they enter this place of torment." 29 Abraham said. "They have Moses and the prophets (in the Scriptures). Let (the rich brothers) hear them. 30 (The rich man) said, "No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead comes to them they will repent." 31 He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead?"