Every Sunday, across the world, Christians share an agreed three year cycle of Bible Readings in Sunday worship, this is called the Common Lectionary. We offer materials including prayers bible study and worship resources for each one of these Sunday's via our Lectionary Bible Notes Section.

September 29 Ordinary 26

Today we have the story of Lazarus, which incorporates these blessings and curses. The rich man is dressed in purple and fine linen, both of these things indicate great wealth. Contrast this with poor Lazarus, who is reduced to a life of begging. He is not adorned in fine clothes rather the words used describe his skin covered in ulcerated sores, which would have made him unclean. His only companions are wild dogs. He is left at the gate of the rich man, the gate emphasising the size of the rich man’s estate and the separation which exists between them. If Lazarus had received even the scraps from the rich man he would have perhaps survived, the gates allowed the rich man to shut out Lazarus and prevent the needs of Lazarus from becoming his concern. People build gates on their homes not because they want to be kept in, rather because they want to keep others out. They wish to remain protected from the world beyond. The gate is very symbolic and challenges us all to consider whether we are remote and isolated from the needs of our wider society. Every day the rich man would have gone past Lazarus, yet he might never have even noticed that he was there. How many times are we just too preoccupied with our own lives that we fail to notice those with great need?

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Lectionary Material for every Sunday in Years A, B, C

Each morning and each evening
let the peace of the Father, be ours.
Each day and each night
let the peace of the Son be ours.
Each dawn and each dusk
let the peace of the Spirit be ours.
Let the blessing of the three in one be ours;
both now and for ever. Amen.
Carmina Gadelica