Heal the World and Make it a Better Place

09-29-2019Weekly ReflectionFr. Julius Kundi

Last week the Church admonished us to be prudent stewards with God's given blessings. This week also is a continuation on the same subject matter. However, today's message is more of series of warnings that the selfish and extravagant use of God’s blessings, like wealth, without sharing them with the poor and the needy is a serious sin deserving eternal punishment. The Sunday readings stress the Covenant responsibility of the rich for the poor, reminding us of the truth that wealth without active mercy for the poor is great wickedness. It warns us against making money the goal of our existence.

Again, we read today from the Prophet Amos, issuing a powerful warning to those who seek wealth at the expense of the poor and who spend their time and their money on themselves alone. He prophesies that those rich and self-indulgent people will be punished by God with exile because they don’t care for their poor and suffering brothers. Much consoling is from the Psalmist of today who praises Yahweh, who cares for the poor. St. Paul redirects our attention to that which matters most as he admonishes us to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness” – noble goals in an age of disillusionment – rather than riches. Like Amos Jesus also gives us a warning, pointing to the destiny of the rich man who neglected his duty to show mercy to poor Lazarus. The rich man was punished, not for having riches, but for neglecting the Scriptures and what they taught on sharing his blessings with the poor.

We need to really understand, especially what sin the rich man committed . Remember, he did not order his men that Lazarus be removed from the gate of his house. He did not make any objection to his receiving the leftover that fell from his table. He did not kick him. He was not cruel with him. He is too well mannered. However, the sin of this rich man, who had no name, was that he never noticed Lazarus who represents a fact of life: the poor, the sick, and the unfortunate who are always around us. He did no wrong, but he did nothing. In the Catholic teaching, that is the sin of omission (not doing what is supposed to do).

The sin of the rich man could be our sin too if we will not lift a finger to help all the Lazarus around us. We sometimes tend to be so insensitive and indifferent to what others are going through so long as it does not intrude in our private lives of comfort. Sometimes we become blind or amnesia when one personal interest reigns. We will help not only those who are materially poor but also those who are spiritually poor. As Mother Theresa said: “They don’t have food but love…they are homeless not because they don’t have homes but because they are rejected.” Today, we are all challenged to Heal the world and make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race.

Fr. Julius

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