"Woe to the Complacent of Zion" ~ by Ronnie Archer

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Amos 6:1, 4-7
Ps. 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)
1 Timothy 6: 11-16
Luke 16: 19-31

The theme of this Sunday's readings is the contrast between the rich and the poor. Amos' focus is on the condemnation of the elite... the complacency of the rich, and their lack of concern for those around them who are living a very different lifestyle of poverty and suffering.

The responsorial psalm for today (146) is all about keeping faith, securing justice, and feeding the hungry.

The second reading from 1 Timothy tells us to be "people of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness....Lay hold of eternal life, to which we are called." (v.11-12)

Luke's Gospel carries the same theme. We hear the story of the rich man living a lavish lifestyle, royal clothing, dining sumptuously... just enjoying a self indulgent life, while Lazarus, covered with sores, with nothing to eat... was lying at the rich man's door. The rich man had total disregard for Lazarus, who was merely existing in poverty.

When poor Lazarus died, he was comforted by God, taken by angels to the bosom of Abraham, in comfort and peace. The rich man was sent to torment, since while alive, he did not listen and heed the Word of God.

The rich man, while in torment raised his eyes and cried out to Abraham to "have pity on me"...as well as, another command "to send Lazarus, to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue..." (v. 24). Abraham reminded him of how much good he had received during his lifetime, while having total disregard for Lazarus, who was poor. Then he begged him to send him to tell his brothers so they may be warned, so they wouldn't suffer the same fate. That could not be done, they had already been warned, and had not listened to Moses, nor the prophets.

The rich man did not relieve Lazarus' agony while alive, so now Lazarus could not relieve his agony, because "a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours...or from your side to ours." (v. 26) Luke makes it clear that Lazarus received his reward in the Kingdom of God... and that indifference from those who were more fortunate, would be punished.

God's chosen people in the Old Testament were ignoring God's prophets, as some do in our time..."doing their own thing"... inventing their own "music", giving God's Word a different meaning. We cannot improve on, nor change what God intended for us.

When we think of different situations in our own country and in our world, we should be able to relate to this story... the events that have happened in our own country today, where many of the rich have benefited from the "poor". Wealth carries "power", and sometimes arrogance. We should be careful of how that "power" is used.

Jesus wills us to build a society where rich and poor are treated equally.

When we want to live as Christians, then we have a responsibility for others. We need the riches of Christ's grace, mercy, and power so we can be transformed to grow in Christ Jesus.