26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

First Reading             Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Psalm                           146:6c-7,8-9a,9bc-10 (R.1b)

R:// "My soul, give praise to the Lord"

2nd Reading             1 Timothy 6:11-16

Gospel                        Luke 16:19-31

ATTEND TO THE LAZARUS AT YOUR GATE

Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today, the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) is the last Sunday of September. We thank God for his providence, granting us the strength to go through even the hard times. The Word of God for this Sunday is taken from the same books as last Sunday. Therefore, we should see a particular trend or thematic development here. Let us delve into them.

The first reading is from Amos 6:1a, 4-7. Again, the prophet Amos is working within a difficult economic system. The issue is that while things look very economically difficult, not everyone is crying. Some are very comfortable and happier. The first reading talks about the life of the rich within a difficult economic system. 

The prophet outlines 4 major things about the rich in that difficult system. First, he noticed that the rich sleep on "beds of ivory" (v.4a). This is the description of comfort and the accumulation of houses and properties. The rich are building mansions and securing the best places of rest for themselves. While the system is difficult and people are struggling to survive, there are yet people building and securing properties. 

The second is that the rich are "eating lambs taken from flock, and calves from the stall" (v.4b). They are also drinking wine from bowls (v.6a). What these mean is that they are eating meat, very expensive to acquire in an age of scarcity. They even have an abundance of wine, the image of a feast. These people are throwing parties everyday. It was a daily activity. While the economic system is difficult, some are at parties and feasts. They can acquire. 

The third is that they are listening to good music and inventing new genres of music to soothe themselves and for relaxation. Amos says, "they improvise to the music of the harp, composing on musical instruments like David" (v.5). These people are very happy, even when there is economic breakdown. 

Finally, they "anoint themselves with the best oils" (v.6b). This is cosmetics. They use the best body enhancement creams, body sprays and splashes, seek bodily enhancement, and look very beautiful. They look good and smell very nicely. These are the things the rich men do. However, there is a problem. It is that "they forget the ruin of Joseph" (v. 6c). We shall get back to it later. 

While the first reading talks about the rich, the Gospel passage from Luke 16:19-31 stresses the plight of the poor. I call it the tale of the two men. There is an unnamed rich man, and there is Lazarus. In the Gospels, this is the only time a specific name is mentioned in a parable. The prominent name in the narrative is LAZARUS. Why is this name very important. I want to suggest that the name sets the stage for understanding what is happening to the man, Lazarus. 

The name, LAZARUS, is a form of the name Eliezer, which means "God is my help". In fact, it is easy to realise an inflexion of the Hebrew, 'EZER in the name. 'Ezer means 'Help'. From the beginning, the author tells us that the man depends on God and God alone for his help. This is corroborated by 3 reasons.

The first is that, as a poor man, he is covered with sores. In Leviticus 13, anyone with an open wound (thus, leprosy) cannot be in the midst of people. He or she is not only physically and spiritually excluded, he is also socially excluded. Lazarus is unfit to be in the house. He has no human help. In fact, even when he died, we did not hear about a befitting burial done for him, and neither did we hear his family showing up. He was carried away by angels. He is again socially and, in family wise, rejected even jn death. Only God can show up for him. 

The second reason is that dogs come to lick his sores. Dogs are deemed unclean animals. The best place Lazarus can be offered is among the unclean. He is simply helpless. 

The third reason is that Luke describes him to be at the door of the Rich Man. Let us consider THE DOOR (or the GATE) within the wider context of a GATE to a city in Jewish life. A gate to a city is not only an access to the city, but it is also a judicial setting. The fact that Lazarus was there was not only that he might gain access to the daily feasts of the man, but that he needed someone to speak for him, a person to vindicate him in that court. Surprisingly, there is no one. Lazarus is humanly helpless in all dimensions. 

However, he is at the gate of a man who wears PURPLE GARMENT. This is the garment of royals and influential people in society. The Rich Man is a clear example of the rich men Amos talks about. In the final analysis, we know what happened to Lazarus and the Rich Man. Why would the Rich Man suffer eternal damnation? The answer lies back in the first reading.

Amos accuses the rich men of forgetting the ruin of Joseph (Amos 6:6). What is that? Remember that in Genesis 45:5, Joseph told his distressed brothers that, "it was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you". That is the Joseph reaction to a time of scarcity and famine when the economic system is unfavourable. The meaning is that God blesses Joseph so that he can bless others, especially his family. The implication is that even in the time of scarcity and limited resources, whatever we have should be seen as a gift for others. It is for the sake of others that God blesses us with wealth in a time of economic struggle. Let us not forget that always and everyday, a Lazarus sits at our door, seeking justice and safety. Just look at the Lazarus at the Gate because by your riches, you are the answer, the help God sends to a Lazarus. 

Pax et Bonum