Pastor's Message

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Is there anyone poor among you, one of your brothers, in any town of yours in the land which Yahweh, your God is giving you. Do not harden your heart or close your hand against that poor brother of yours. Be open handed with Him and lend enough for his needs." Deut 15.7-8

Last Sunday, Prophet Amos in the 1^st Reading cried out against those who exploited the needy for the sake of profit and greed.

He warned merchants who carefully abide to the Laws governing the Sabbath yet took every opportunity to manipulate weighing machines to maximize profit; The Lord had sworn by the pride of Jacob, Amos warned, never would he forget a thing they have done!

In this Sunday’s 1^st Reading, Prophet Amos, warns against those who are at ease, those who feel secure; those who are not grieved over the ruin of others.

“Woe to those complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from their flock, … They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; … yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!” …. Now, they shall be the first to go to the exile!” Amos 6:4-7

Concern and response to neighbors’ misfortunes is the responsibility and a blessing of the one who is rich in the ways of the Lord!

In today’s Gospel Reading Jesus gives us the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. The two had lived and died; both achieved different destinies; Lazarus was blessed to be at the bosom of Abraham while the rich man was buried and in Hades.

The parable delt with a failure to recognize what was truly good. and a failure to “awaken” and respond to the good. The rich man’s wealth made him insensitive to the demands of the law of the Covenant; It demanded sharing one’s goods with the poor; like the one, who too close to him for his notice; one who longed to be filled from what fell from his table. Lazarus was not worth much in his eyes, and the rich man had forgotten the teachings of Moses; “Is there anyone poor among you, one of your brothers, in any town of yours in the land which Yahweh, your God is giving you. Do not harden your heart or close your hand against that poor brother of yours. Be open handed with Him and lend enough for his needs.” Deut. 15:7-8

Of course, the rich man was also a child of God with inherent dignity, but that dignity didn’t come from his wealth and possessions. It came from the truth, that he had been created in the Image of God. Consequently, he could not disregard those created in the Image of God.

This rich man, was not only extravagant, he was an empty hearted man in this world and life in hades, only brought to light the truth already present in this life.

The story would have ended then, but the rich man asked Abraham not only for a favor but also for a sign; he asked if Lazarus would be sent as a warning to his brothers.

The words of Abraham, suggest that the situation of his brothers was equally hopeless; they were equally locked into their selfishness and were as heedless as he was, in their lives on earth. They would not convert on the basis of hearing the Scripture; and they would not convert even if someone were to come back to life.

And Abraham was right; After Jesus had raised Lazarus of Bethany in St. John’s Gospel and after many people had come to believe in Christ, the Chief Priest and the Pharisees called a meeting in which they decided not only to kill Jesus but Lazarus too.

The miracle for them did not lead to faith, but to a hardening of heart.

Equally, when our Salvation was confirmed in the Resurrection of Christ, the Elders of People conspired with the soldiers;

“This is what you must say, “his disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. And should the governor come to hear about it, we undertake to put things right with him, and see that you do not get into trouble.” Mt 28:13-14 †