Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Jeremiah Buys a Field

32 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. ² For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the house of the king of Judah.

³ For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy? You say: Thus says the Lord: I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it,

⁶ So Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me, saying: ⁷ Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth. For the right of redemption is yours to buy it.”

⁸ So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord and said to me, “Please buy my field, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.”

Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. ⁹ I bought the field of Hanamel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels^[a] of silver. ¹⁰ I signed and sealed the deed, and summoned witnesses, and weighed the money from him in the balances. ¹¹ So I took the deed of purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open. ¹² And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison.

¹³ I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, ¹⁴ Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel that they may last many days. ¹⁵ For thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Psalm 91

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. ⁸ If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with these things. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil. While coveting after money, some have strayed from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But you, O man of God, escape these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. ¹³ I command you, in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who testified a good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ to keep this commandment without blemish, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the proper time. ¹⁶ He alone has immortality, living in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen, nor can see. To Him be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this world that they not be conceited, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Command that they do good, that they be rich in good works, generous, willing to share, ¹⁹ and laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of eternal life.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ There was also a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, who had been placed at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed the crumbs falling from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² “It came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s presence. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham from a distance and Lazarus in his presence. 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 tormented in this flame.’

²⁵ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “He said, ‘Then I pray you, father, to send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, to testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹ “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them hear them.’

³⁰ “He said, ‘No, father Abraham. But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”