September 25, 2022, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Today’s readings are a warning against the impact that excessive wealth can have on our lives. And as so often happens Jesus has a parable to address this issue.
We hear it first in the reading from Amos (Am. 6:1a, 4-7), a prophet who preached in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC. Amos called attention to the many sins that the kings and the people were committing at the time which would lead to their punishment and downfall. Some of the sins they were guilty of included idolatry, and hypocritical worship. But, most blatant, were the crimes that the wealthy committed against the poor and downtrodden.
In the Jewish society of the time having wealth in itself was not necessarily a sin. To have wealth was both a blessing and a responsibility. It was a means to recognize that all life was sacred and that all humans should be treated with equality, dignity, and justice. Judaism taught that the rich should give generously to the poor and the people in their land who were in need and thus make the most of their blessing.
During his time of prophecy, Amos notices the mistreatment being committed by the wealthy against the poor and he calls their attention to it repeatedly, foretelling woe to the complacent. He describes them as reclining on expensive beds and eating and drinking extravagant food and drinks. They relax to music, drink fine wine, and anoint themselves with precious oils. They show no concern or remorse for those in the land who have already been attacked and exiled by the enemy and think nothing of the ramifications that will soon come their way. They ignorantly live each day as a celebration with no consideration for those in need.
In the Gospel (Lk. 16:19-31), notice who Jesus is speaking to – the Pharisees, some of the richest and most prominent men in Jerusalem. They have the power to participate in the condemnation of Jesus, yet he sets about without fear to warn them of their abhorrent treatment of the poor and oppressed. For the behavior that they exhibit is supposed to serve as an example for their followers and the common people. But what they depict is as scandalous as the story of the rich man and Lazarus.
There was a rich man who wore the finest clothes and ate fine food every day, while a poor man named Lazarus was lying at his door. Lazarus, who would have gladly eaten the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table, was covered in sores that dogs would come and lick daily. This was the only relief from his painful existence that Lazarus would experience. It is quite ironic that the dogs knew better than the rich man that people in pain need help.
Both men died and Lazarus was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham, the father of the Jewish race, while the rich man entered into the netherworld where he suffered torment. So great was his pain that he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and bring it to him that he might cool his tongue amidst the flames he was experiencing. Notice a second bit of irony here, as well. The rich man is still considering Lazarus as a sort of servant from whom he demands a service. However, Abraham reminds him of all the good that he had received when he was alive, and that Lazarus had experienced only pain and suffering during that time. Now, here in the afterlife, the situation is reversed. He will receive nothing from Lazarus just as he spared nothing for Lazarus in the previous life. What’s more, there is a great chasm dividing them which could not be traversed from one side to the other by anyone who dwells there.
The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers of their potential for this place of torment. Abraham replies, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them” (Lk. 16:29). Speaking of Moses and the prophets, Abraham is including the Hebrew Scriptures, which contain many commands requiring the Jewish people to support the poor. As the book of Deuteronomy states, “The land will never lack for needy persons; that is why I command you: ‘Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.’” (Deutero. 15:11).
Apparently, the rich man had not been following the scriptural mandates to care for the impoverished and disadvantaged. He had been too busy showing off his riches with his “purple garments and fine linen” and sumptuous meals. If he had been reading and obeying the Torah, he would not have ended up on the wrong side of the chasm. Now he worries about his brothers who are probably ignoring the law and the writings of the prophets, as well, thus missing out on their possibility for redemption.
Realizing the implications, the rich man implores that Lazarus be sent to his brothers thinking that if someone from the dead would go to them, they would still have a chance at salvation. But Abraham berates him saying, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” (Lk. 16:31). The reference to the resurrection of Jesus here cannot be missed. And it is being addressed to the Pharisees in the crowd who will reject the words of the apostles who proclaim the resurrection after the crucifixion of Jesus. Their stubbornness, like that of the rich man, will be their downfall.
The same holds true for us. It can be found in the scriptures we look to today for guidance. We read it in our responsorial psalm: “Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry” (Ps. 146:7). We are all blessed with gifts from God in one form or another. It may be wealth. It may be a large family. It may be a specific vocation or talent. Whatever it may be, it was given to us by the Lord to share with others, even if it be a mere crumb or drop of water.
