Today is the twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel reading, the Rich Man and Lazarus, continues the theme of the problem of wealth in our lives. To be sure, wealth isn’t the only possible barrier to us getting to heaven, but it’s one possibility. As I’ve said many times it isn’t the other thing itself so much as it’s our relationship with that other thing. In the case of money it’s the love of money that gets ion our way.
We see graphically in today’s Gospel the rich man is practicing what today might be referred to as conspicuous consumption. I doubt any of us are guilty of that but the warning is well placed to remind us to keep our eyes on the prize of eternal life. Part of getting there means seeing those around us who are in need and acting accordingly. Pope Francis used to talk about the sin of indifference and I think he was right about that.
We see clearly that after we die there is no opportunity to change our ways and turn away from our indifference. We have to act now.
A thing that always gets me about this reading is that we know the name of Lazarus, but not the Rich Man. I think that’s telling. First, as far as I can tell this is the only parable of Jesus that tells us the name of any of the characters. Second, you have to assume the Rich Man wasn’t known by Jesus. We all should want to be known by Jesus. After all, we believe we have been called by name to relationship with Him. How condemning that we night wish to be known by Him at the hour of our death and yet be dismissed for not following His commandments.
Let’s all be sure we’re focused on the right things and taking action to make our love of our neighbor manifest.
One of my favorite songs related to this week’s Gospel is Open my Eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAiLMBLSb2s
Last week I wrote about praying for our leaders, even people we don’t like. I wrote a short version of that in my weekly email to our OCIA inquirers. I received a note back from one of them that I want to share with you. She wrote: “I have done a lot of soul searching the last few weeks. The anger and hatred in our country is heartbreaking so this week I literally started praying for politicians on the other side…I believe this is the only way to bring down the hateful rhetoric. I specifically am praying for their safety, for God’s guidance as they seek to do what’s best for our country, and for the Lord’s help in finding a way to bring down the temperature in this country.”
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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