Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 25, 2022 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
[Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Tim 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31]"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table." [Luke]
These words begin the parable of the Rich Man ('Dives") and Lazarus in the Gospel According to Luke. Luke also recounts the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21). These three parables could be read together as a lesson in awareness. The Gospel According to Luke consistently points out the dangers of material wealth, especially the impact that it can have on human consciousness and awareness of the poverty that impacts so many people. One of the principal symbols of this process might be seen in the "gated communities" that are so common in our country.
In today's gospel, Lazarus is literally at the doorstep of Dives and Dives is unaware of his presence. Dives is protected by purple garments and rich diet from even sending scraps to Lazarus. The contrast is reversed when they both die. It is not as if Dives is an evil man. He simply let his life protect him from Lazarus' life. The Rich Fool thought only of expanding his wealth instead of sharing it. The Good Samaritan did not allow his status with Jews to prevent him from helping the victim of the robbers. He showed compassion. Material wealth can deaden compassion.
We are challenged to be aware of our neighbor and respond. The individualism of our culture and its passion for private property can work against fundamental teachings of Jesus. Perhaps we can borrow today from the Gospel According to Matthew in the words from the scene of the last judgment (Matt. 25:31-45): "As often as you did it for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me." AMEN