HOMILY FOR TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY (YEAR C), SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

THEME: OUR PRAYER LIFE AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

Lazarus outside the rich man's house being licked by dogs

Last Sunday, we saw how Christ presented us with a teaching that indicates that the dawn of God's reign is a reversal of the suffering of the poor and needy. This reversal is given its ultimate significance today; at the end of time, God's judgment will show that the fruitfulness of our Christian devotions would be seen in our commitment to a just, equitable distribution of the world's goods. This is never too much to ask for; it is the beginning of a Christian brotherhood that would come to its fullness in heaven.

Let us begin by briefly taking in the picture of the life of the wealthy which the Prophet Amos paints for us in our first reading (Amos 6:1.4-7). At a time when the cultic life of the Israelites was robust, the prophet brings them a message of woe because 

1.they were comfortable in their elevated status, 

2.they relished exotic furniture and the best of meals, 

3.they enjoyed leisure to the point of laziness, 4.unsatisfied with the necessities of life, they yearned for luxuries, to the point that  they could take even from the poor, 

4.they played music and danced to the point that they even copied temple music for their profane parties, 

5.they were unconcerned about whether things were going bad in the nation and even in the temple.

Though they were active in worship, the Lord's day of judgement will catch up with them. They shall be the first to be exiled. They shall be deprived of their pleasures and happiness and the discomfort which they abhorred shall be their lot forever. This prophecy re-echoes Isaiah 22:14:God would not tolerate injustice to the poor.

This denunciation of the recklessness and insensitivity of the wealthy is what Luke continues to present to us in the message of Christ's proclamation of the kingdom. In today's gospel (Lk. 16:19-31), the rich man finds himself condemned to everlasting torment in the afterlife while Lazarus, the poor one finds himself in the privileged position of being close to Abraham the servant of God in heaven. Luke tells us that this is simply because the rich man paid no attention to the sufferings of poor Lazarus. Why would he be punished? Did he steal from anyone? Did he use Lazarus for work and not pay him? Did he exploit poor Lazarus?

We may find answers to our questions by looking at the words of our prayer in the Church. Luke tells us that Jesus taught us to pray, calling God 'Our Father'. This means that all of us, rich or poor, have a common brotherhood and God is our common source of providence. From this common knowledge we go on to petition God to 'give us...our daily bread' (cf. Lk. 11:3). This means that we share a common covenant relationship with God that binds us all together as one. Thus when we ask for God's blessings and favours, they are not meant for us alone. It is 'our bread' to be shared with others. In this way, our abundance would cater for the lack of the needy; ensuring that all have access to life's necessities and not luxuries.

This is what the rich man omitted in his life. This is what Christ invites us to realise. Whether rich or poor, we must have the attitude of sharing our blessings and endowments with others both as individuals and as nations. We must seek to live simply and purchase simply.

We are told that at the rich man's gate lay Lazarus (vs 23). The Greek word used here is 'tithemi' which means to 'place', 'to drop' or 'position' something or someone. In this sense, some early Fathers of the Church have taught us that God positions the poor as an opportunity for the rich to do charity. Perhaps it is for this reason that Jesus says "the poor you will always have with you" (Mat. 26:11; cf. Dt. 15:11). This is the opportunity (to do charity) that the rich man omitted and was accounted for him as sin. This opportunity can only be found while we are still here on earth.

Truth is, our world can hardly be said to be different. We find it easier to notice the rich, the affluent, the powerful and the influential in our midst, in our homes, in our families, in our schools, in our workplaces, in our Churches and Parishes than to pay attention to the poor and needy. We become uncomfortable when matters about poverty and the neglected are raised. 

However, each day we say the Lord's prayer asking 'Our Father' to 'give us our daily bread', let us bear in mind that the bread is indeed for 'US' not for 'ME'. Each time we pray God to bless us in anyway (spiritual or material), we must know that such blessings are not meant for us and our loved ones alone but for all humans. Let us not deafen our ears or thicken our skins to the plight of the poor and the lack of equity in our world.

May the Holy Spirit inflame our hearts to heed the call to solidarity with the poor that we may be truly converted in this world. Amen