Luke 16:19-31

Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

1 Timothy 6:11-16

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“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.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied,

‘My child, remember that you received

what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go

from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,

send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,

so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.’

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.’

He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I hope that one day I will be with you in the glory of heaven. Inspire me to serve the poor around me and alleviate their suffering. I pray that I be a good administrator of the good things I have received.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Warning to the Lovers of Money: In the Gospel, Luke has just told us that the Pharisees responded to Jesus’ Parable of the Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-13) by sneering at him. Luke also gives us why they did so. The Pharisees, Luke tells us, “loved money” (Luke 16:14). In response to their sneering, Jesus addressed another parable to the Pharisees – the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Like the Parable of the Dishonest Steward, it attempts to get the Pharisees to reflect on how they are using their wealth. Are they using earthly wealth to store up heavenly treasure with God? Are they neglecting the needs of the poor and choosing, like the rich man, to dress in fine linen and dine sumptuously each day? While Jesus has praised poverty as a blessing, he warns: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:24). Today’s parable exemplifies the reversal of fortunes announced earlier in the Sermon on the Plain. Lazarus, who suffered in this life, is now comforted in the next life, and the rich man, who cared excessively for himself but neglected to care for the poor, now suffers torment in the flames of Hades.

2. Amos’s Judgment of the Wealthy Elite: In the First Reading, we hear Amos’s prophetic judgment pronounced upon the wealthy in Zion, the mountain in the capital city of Jerusalem in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Much of Amos’ prophetic work and message was directed to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In Amos 4:1, he addresses the wealthy women of the northern kingdom for their oppression of the poor: “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink.’” But here the Southern Kingdom is also his focus. Amos warns: “Because of their lives of luxury, idolatry, and neglect of the poor, the punishment of exile is coming” (A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament, 409). Amos’ prophecy is fulfilled for the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. when the Assyrians conquered Israel and sent its people into exile. His prophecy is fulfilled for the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 587 B.C. when the Babylonians conquered Judah and Jerusalem and brought its people to Babylon as captives. Amos’ judgment on Israel and Judah applies to us. If we neglect to care for the poor in this life, then we are in danger of experiencing eternal exile from God in the next.

3. Paul’s Exhortations to Timothy: In the Second Reading, Paul is offering Timothy advice on how to govern the community in Ephesus. At the end of the reading, Paul warns Timothy about those who use religion for their own material gain. Even today, we have the scandalous example of those who preach the “prosperity gospel,” evangelists who ask for money to support their lavish lifestyle, and pastors who steal from their parishes. While Paul warns against those who use religion to make money, he also says that “religion with contentment is a great gain.” The gain, here, is not material wealth, but the assurance that God will provide for one’s needs in this life and promises eternal life to those who store up heavenly treasure. “[R]eligion’s real benefit demands inner freedom regarding material wealth, being content with the necessities of life. The Greek word autarkeia (contentment) was a common philosophical term for independence from material goods. Paul agrees with Job and the Wisdom tradition: ‘Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, / and naked shall I go back again’ (Job 1:21). All that one has gained one must ultimately forfeit, hence the absurdity of making wealth the goal of one’s life” (Montague, First and Second Timothy, Titus, 124-125).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me to be pure and simple of heart and overcome any religious hypocrisy. I do not want my heart to be divided. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Living the Word of God: How is my detachment from earthly wealth? How is my heavenly bank account?