Cristy Li

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45  Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

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“Whoever welcomes this child in My name welcomes Me and whoever welcomes Me, welcomes the One who sent me. For the least among all of you is greatest.”  Luke 9:48
Image Courtesy: Sister Athens

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Fresco of Lazarus & The Rich Man – Rila Monastery  -Image Courtesy: Kalina Boulter

The Rich Man and Lazarus

There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day and at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

The poor man died and was carried away by the Angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades (Hell) where hew was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called 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 in agony in these flames.”

Abraham said (in reply), ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so and no one can cross from there to us.’

He (the Rich man in Hell) said, ‘Then father (Abraham) I beg you to send him to my father’s house–for I have five brothers, the he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’

Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets, they should listen to them.’

He (The Rich man in Hell) said, ‘No father Abraham but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’  Luke 16:19-31

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Vanity of Vanities — Image Courtesy: GADEL

Rejoice O youth, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand regarding all this that God will bring you to judgment.

Banish misery from your heart and remove pain from your body, for youth and black hair are fleeting.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’

Before the sun is darkened and the light and the moon and the stars and the clouds return after the rain.

When the guardians of the house tremble and the strong men are bent.

When the Women who grind are idle because they are few and those who look through the windows grow blind.

When the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill is low.

When one rises at the call of a bird and all the daughters of song are quiet.

When one is afraid of heights and perils in the street.

When the almond tree blooms and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect because mortals go to their lasting home and mourners go about the streets.

Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken and the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well and the dust returns to the earth as it once was and the life breath returns to God who gave it.

Vanity of Vanities — all things are vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:8

Lord, You turn humanity back into dust saying, “Return, you children of Adam.” A thousand years in Your eyes are merely a day gone by, before a watch passes in the night, You wash them away. They sleep and in the morning they sprout again like a herb. In the morning it blooms, only to pass away, in the evening it is wilted and withered.

Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Relent, O Lord. How long? Have pity on Your servants. Fill us at daybreak with Your mercy, that all our days we may sing for joy.

May the favor of the Lord our God be ours.

Prosper the work of our hands.

Prosper the work of our hands. Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17

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