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"Parable of the Rich Man", 1627 Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669

“Parable of the Rich Man”, 1627 Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669

READINGS FOR COMING WEEK

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

QUESTIONS

‘The Rich Fool’ is the title often given to the parable Jesus tells in our gospel reading.

  1. Wealth seems to cause the man to turn inward on himself rather than turn outward to see others. Does that sound like someone you know? Does that sound like you?
  2. What is most important in life to you? Do the investments of your time, talents, and treasure demonstrate what is most important to you?
GOSPEL VERSE
Luke 12:13-21
The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ 14But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ 16Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” 18Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

Readings are from the online Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, a division of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library.

Scripture texts are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.