Rev. Sue Beal

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord ,make his paths straight.’ ” 

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.

Now, he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.

Now, he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.

But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

“Will God not do right by his chosen, the ones crying out to him day and night? Will he be long in helping them?  I say to you that he will do the right for them quickly. Even so, will the Son of Man, having come, then find faith on earth?” 

When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord said, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 

No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.