It Is Not Wrong To Be Rich

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
30 September 2007


First reading Amos 6:1 - 7
Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion
and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria,
those famous men of this first of nations
to whom the House of Israel goes as client.
Lying on ivory beds
and sprawling on their divans,
they dine on lambs from the flock,
and stall-fattened veal;
they bawl to the sound of the harp,
they invent new instruments of music like David,
they drink wine by the bowlful,
and use the finest oil for anointing themselves,
but about the ruin of Joseph they do not care at all.
That is why they will be the first to be exiled;
the sprawlers’ revelry is over.

Second reading 1 Timothy 6:11 - 16
As a man dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses. Now, before God the source of all life and before Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate, I put to you the duty of doing all that you have been told, with no faults or failures, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who at the due time will be revealed by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal, whose home is in inaccessible light, whom no man has seen and no man is able to see: to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen.

Gospel Luke 16:19 - 31
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames”. “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.” ‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too”. “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.”. “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead”.’


Reflection
By Elizabeth R Eguia

Today’s Gospel tells us the story of a rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had everything, from expensive wardrobes to sumptuous meals while Lazarus had nothing, even a single penny.

Is it against God’s will for us to be rich? Why does He permit some people to be poor? As I was reflecting, I asked myself these questions too. And I realized one important thing. He is never concerned of our status whether we are rich or poor. What matters to Him is how we have lived our lives in whatever condition we are in. It is not wrong to be rich. In fact God wants us to be abundant and live in prosperous lives. But are we using these riches for our own benefit alone or for others too? God did not condemn the rich man for being rich. His soul went into the underworld because he did not show mercy and compassion to Lazarus. On the other hand, Lazarus, in his poor state, even gave something of himself for others. “The dogs licked his sores.”

This made me reflect again how I have been spending my life. The goals that I have set for my self are slowly materializing. My salary got increased, my debts are fully paid, my life back on track. But as I move along, I try to recall how I have spent each day. Have I made someone happy? Did I help someone in anyway? Did I just spend my money for my own benefit alone? Good to note, at least I have been on track on that too. You see, the blessings I received are all from above. And never in my wildest dreams would I have got it without His help and guidance. And I am grateful that He reminds me often if in case I lost track. Just like now through this Gospel.

So try to contemplate about it. Live each day helping someone in whatever way as long as we remember that for everyone you are helping or caring, you are doing it to God.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for this message. We thank You for reminding us of the importance of helping, of sharing what we have, and of caring for others no matter what state of life we are in. May we practice it daily in our lives having in mind that we do this for Your greater glory and honor. Amen.