GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE 16:19-31 • The rich man’s lifestyle is indolence and self-indulgence in extreme luxury every day. • The poor Lazarus desired to eat the crumbs but was too sick to even drive the dogs away. • This great chasm between their lives on earth caused the great chasm between them in their afterlives in reversed and irrevocable situations for the rest of eternity. • What then was the sin of the rich man? His was the sin of omission because he never noticed Lazarus, therefore he never lifted a finger to alleviate the plight of his neighbor. He did nothing. FIRST READING FROM THE BOOK OF AMOS 6:1a.4-7 • Prophet Amos (8th century B.C.), the champion of the oppressed and “the prophet of social justice”, described in detail how the rich man in the Gospel was living his life every day. • He also warned them sternly of the painful consequences of their indolent self-indulgence – the hell side of the great chasm. • This stern warning is also addressed to us now. SECOND READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO TIMOTHY 6:11-16 • Although Paul’s exhortations were addressed to the young Bishop Timothy of Ephesus to live up to the demands of his position, these are also addressed to all of us now, not as ordained ministers but as the lay faithful who are sharers in the common priesthood of Christ by virtue of our baptism. • These are hints, tips, guidelines on how to be on the heaven side of the great chasm in our eternal life, on how to appear before Christ, our Savior and King, on Judgment Day. RESPONSE Praise the Lord, my soul…for You shall reign forever, through all generations. GOSPEL ACCLAMMATION Alleluia! Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor, to make us rich out of his poverty. Alleluia! WHAT IS THE LORD TELLING US THEN? • That there is life after death; we continue to live after death, and this is where the end is justified by the means (CCC 1020). (Truth) • That there is a bridge over the great chasm which is constructed out of all our possessions, attention and care that we give away to all the Lazaruses that we can recognize and encounter in our pilgrimage on earth (CCC 2463, 2449). (Rewards) • That there is hell for all the rich men who see Lazarus with their eyes but maintain hearts that are closed. “Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin” (CCC 1859, 1033-1036, 1056). (Punishments) • That the words of Moses and the prophets are contained in the Holy Bible (our moral guide in this life) which, including the Gospels, are proclaimed at Holy Mass during the Liturgy of the Word (SC 24; VD 54/55). (Familia Biblia Program) • That we should pray for the dead (CCC 1037-1041). (Charity) • That even His Mother Mary is an anawim of God (Luke 1:46-55). (Magnificat) REFLECTIONS • All of us are accountable for the way we treat our ”less fortunate neighbors”. • We may not be rich, but we should guard against the attitudes that render us like the rich man and commit the same sin of omission. AMEN! Have a blessed week ahead ~ All For Jesus ~!
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 21:32:47 +0000
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