|
The Rich Man and The Poor Man |
|
Saturday, 29 September 2007 |
This weekend, at all of the Sunday Masses, we will hear the Lord Jesus speak to us. During the Divine Liturgy (holy Mass), the proclaimed Word becomes the Word, present to us through the Presence of the Holy Spirit. This weekend, the Word made flesh will speak to the parish family of St. John Neumann, in the proclaimed account of the rich man and the poor man, and the Kingdoms each claimed.
What is the truth that Jesus points us toward? The rich of the world (and most of us at SJN are rich, according to the standards of the world)…the rich of the world blessed through their efforts, their supportive environments and the goodness of God, are called by the Lord God to be generous in the care for those that have not been blessed with riches. Through such generosity of heart, through such a spirit of stewardship (thanking God for the gifts given), the rich of the world are obedient to God and build the eternal Kingdom through the structures of justice and hearts of mercy. In this, the wealthy of this world are blessed in - deed.
In the story we hear at Mass, the rich man lived the life of riches, but seemed not to notice the life of poverty, lived by his neighbor Lazarus. In not noticing the suffering all around him, the rich man was disobedient to the word and will of God. In the story, the rich man dined sumptuously each day, while the poor man Lazarus lived nearby, seeing all of this wealth yet sharing in none of it. In the story told to us by the Lord Jesus, the rich man did not follow the plan of God, and lived only for his own pleasure and will.
Both men died; and in the reality of death, any claim to an earthly Kingdom… the riches of wealth and prestige and privilege…these signs of earthly riches were buried with the dead body of the rich man. In the same way, the lack of wealth and prestige and privilege…this lacking was also buried with the body of Lazarus.
I know that we have in our parish individuals and families of wealth along with individuals and families of meager means. And, as is usually the case, we have lots of individuals and families “in between” wealth and poverty. But these categories of prosperity and poverty are not the essential focus of the Word of God today. They key focus is: are we living according to God’s will? Have we consciously asked the Lord to show us how we are to live, within the circumstances of our lives? In sum, do we seek to live the life of the Lord Jesus, in the here and now of everyday life (and not just for an hour on Sunday)?
Our brother St. Paul speaks to us this weekend at Mass, exhorting us to pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, gentleness (1 Timothy 6.11). In all we do and say and hope for, we are invited to seek first that Kingdom promised.
In the way you support the ministries of our parish… in the way you join me in the spiritual discipline of tithing, of offering the first 10% of all you receive to the work of God… in the way you will join me in building a renewed SJN for today and tomorrow… in these and in so many ways, we are called to exhibit His life, lived through our lives. AMDG
Msgr. David |
