TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2025)

Readings:

Amos 6:1A, 4-7

Psalms 146:7-10

First Letter of Paul to Timothy 6:11-16

Luke 16:19-31

Today’s liturgy follows closely on the heels of last weekend’s Mass, repeating some of the same themes, but in a slightly more interesting way.  Remember, last Sunday the gospel ended with Jesus reminding His listeners that they cannot serve both God and mammon (worldly goods), “you will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.”  Today’s liturgy is a complement to last weekend’s readings, even beginning with a similar first reading from the eighth century BC prophet Amos, whose challenges to the wealthy of his day did not make him a popular man: “Woe to the complacent in Zion!  Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!”

It is almost as though Amos is describing the protagonist of Jesus’ parable,  who is merely described by his wealthy status and remains nameless – “a rich man.”  He, like those described in Amos, “dined sumptuously each day.”  Lying at the rich man’s door was poor, named individual, Lazarus.  His name is known to God, for as we will see in the parable, his name is written in the book of heaven.  Lazarus endures days of hunger, he fantasizes of eating the scraps that fall from the rich man’s table, all while dogs lick the sores with which he is afflicted.

The statement “woe to the complacent” from Amos, is especially appropriate here, for the rich man is complacent to his way of life, and that complacency led to the blindness that kept him from thinking of the man who lay hungry at his door.  Like we so often do with those things we don’t want to see or acknowledge, the rich man blinded himself to the poor man Lazarus, for how could he miss seeing him lying at his door.

All of the rich man’s wealth could not save him from the fate all peoples suffer – death.  Lazarus also died, and was carried to the bosom of Abraham by angels, while the rich man went in another direction, to the netherworld, where in his “torment” his eyes were opened to finally recognize Lazarus and Abraham having a fine time.  The rich man’s sense of privilege (like the Astors’ from last week’s reflection) is obvious as he virtually orders Abraham to send Lazarus down to cool his tongue, as though Lazarus is his servant.  The rich man is reminded of how miserable Lazarus’ life on earth was, while he lived in oblivious splendor, but he has just another small request (which at last seems unselfish).  The rich man desires that his five brothers (who likely lived similarly selfish lives), and once again refers to Lazarus as though he is his servant, asking that he go “warn” them so they don’t end up in this same predicament.  Abraham answers definitively, “They have Moses and the prophets.  Let them listen to them.”  Abraham is convinced that “even if someone were to rise from the dead” (no doubt a direct reference by Luke to Jesus’ resurrection), will not persuade those who haven’t used the tools they have had at hand, Moses (the Law) and the prophets.

Once again, the cycle of readings not only tries to convince us to not allow riches to become our masters, but it also warns us of the blindness that complacency (apathy) can create.  Christians are not called to look for the level of destitution that Lazarus endured.  Rather, they are called to live lives that don’t overlook what is right in front of their eyes.  The gospel doesn’t spell it out, but how many opportunities did the rich man have to feed the beggar at his door, to sooth the sores that were so bothersome?  Every time the rich man reentered his house did he just look the other way, did he say that is not my problem?  Did he blame Lazarus for his plight, without thinking more broadly about the civic circumstances which made him poor and needy?  The numerous questions the gospel raises are as plentiful for us as they were for the people of Jesus’ day.  When we cross over to the bosom of Abraham (heaven) will our awareness of the difficulties that afflict so many of our brothers and sisters save us?  Will our lack of generosity, and our general demeanor of not caring about others cause us to live in a land of torment?  We have the Scriptures, we have the prophets, will we listen to them and act accordingly?  Our future is dependent on us hearing them, and then putting their advice into practice.