Just a word before we go...Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time...September 25, 2022

At first glance, it seems that both the prophet Amos in our reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, and Jesus in our Gospel, are castigating those who are rich. Both scriptures speak of those who care only for themselves, their comfort and their entertainment, without regard or even thought, of those who have no shelter, food, or clothing.

A dive beneath the surface of these stories, however, reveals that being rich, according to ancient wisdom, did not necessarily connote being miserly or indifferent to the plight of the poor, but also could describe one who was generous and self-giving, one who recognized that wealth and possessions were gifts that should be shared, not hoarded. Consider Abraham, our ancestor in faith, who was considered wealthy, and whose legacy includes that of hospitality (remember the icon of the Trinity).  We might also think of the women who accompanied Jesus on his journeys, who scripture tells us provided for the needs of his followers from their own resources.  It might be inferred that the difference in the understandings of being rich lies in the way we live; do we isolate ourselves from the “problem” of poverty or suffering, or do we cooperate with God’s plan that all belong and are entitled to their inherent dignity as being made in the image and likeness of God?

It is no coincidence that angels brought Lazarus to the side of Abraham, that rich symbol of generosity and welcome. 

The Gospel tells us that the rich man and his family had plenty of time to listen to the warnings of the prophets...to no avail.  And then, it was too late. We, too, have listened time and again to the prophets and to the Gospel; we also have modern day prophets, like Pope Francis, who urges us to create a culture of encounter and engagement with the other...do we pay attention, or do their words fall on deaf ears? 

The wisdom of the ancients, and that of our contemporary prophets, is accessible to all of us.  We need only develop the ears to hear it.  The musician John Denver put it well in his song: “It’s in every one of us to be wise; find your heart, open up both your eyes.”  Amen.