26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Amos 6:1, 4-7 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31
The parable of Jesus in the Gospel Reading for today does not make for comfortable reading! Like the Gospel of last Sunday it is meant to disturb us in a good sense, that is, to move us out of our comfort zone and draw us to consider some of the really essential principles of the religion we try to embrace.
Jesus portrays the rich man in all his splendour looking down on the poor man, Lazarus, sitting outside the gate begging. Do we all have a ‘Lazarus’ outside our gate? We, at best, make some generous gestures towards those who make demands on us, but our motives may be ulterior of legalistic. Perhaps when we turn to the Reading from Amos today we will be comforted in disclaiming that we are “ensconced so smugly” or “Lying on ivory beds and sprawling on divans” or “dining on lambs” or “Drinking wine by the bowlful” or “using the finest oil for anointing”. That’s not us!! But alas, conscience does not keep silent!! It may be difficult to hear our consciences because of the concerns and dramas and noise that may be in our lives.
The final sentence of the 1st Reading is indeed striking – ‘The revelry of the sprawlers is over’ and it seems to be saying that there is need to return to simplicity of life and manner of living. It is said that just after his election as Pope, Pope Francis said ‘the carnival is over’. It may indeed be apocryphal but the message is the same – we need to be continually returning to the simplicity of life which is appropriate for disciples of Jesus.
Sometimes we all need a shock or dramatic personal incident to bring us to our senses. Jesus puts it graphically – like someone coming back from the dead! If we are alert to the quality of our lives and the lives of others, we won’t need people coming out of graves in order to take note of what God reveals to us. Jesus is assuring us that the Word of God is sufficient for us. But we do need to HEAR.
Despite the fact that we listen to the words of Jesus many of us still do not hear the message that “it is impossible to serve both God and money”. And the scandal is that there is so much poverty and inequality alongside so many advances and riches in all areas of life. Like so many others, I am often moved even to tears when I hear of the sufferings of the poor and downtrodden. But the tears dry up very quickly and the tendency towards self-gratification and self-security takes over.
It is true that society, and maybe I in particular, give more attention and respect to those who are rich and powerful. At times even Churches seem to defer to those of great wealth. But outside the walls of every church and every comfortable home is the challenge of a Lazarus reminding us of where God is always found – in the poor, the lowly, the suffering and the hungry.
What can I do to address my dilemma and where can I find the ability to listen and hear the prophets of our times? It is in prayer that the Lord will speak. Our prayer today might be in thanksgiving for all that we have received. Our petitions might be for wisdom to understand the inequalities that exist and for the compassion and generosity that should be the hallmarks of every Christian.
Pope Francis teaches: “We must be hurt-healers (compassionate?) and heart-warmers (generous?)”