My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this weekend’s readings pierce our hearts with a sobering call to examine our lives. The prophet Amos thunders against the complacency of those who revel in luxury while ignoring the suffering around them. He warns of the consequences of self-indulgence, where the wealthy “lie upon beds of ivory” and feast lavishly, yet turn a blind eye to the needs of the poor. This is not merely a historical rebuke but a challenge for us today. How often do we, in our comfort, overlook the marginalized and suffering in our communities? Amos reminds us that God sees our indifference, and it carries a cost-exile from His grace if we fail to act with justice and charity.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a story that shakes us to our core. A story that lives out what Amos is speaking about. The rich man, clothed in fine linen and feasting sumptuously, ignores Lazarus, who lies at his gate, covered in sores and longing for scraps. It’s not the rich man’s wealth that condemns him, but his failure to see Lazarus as his brother, to share even a crumb of compassion. In the end, the chasm between them in the afterlife reflects the chasm the rich man built in life through his neglect.
My friends, this parable begs us to ask: Who is Lazarus in our lives? Who sits at our gates, unnoticed, in need of our love? Let us open our eyes and hearts, for in serving the poor, we encounter Christ Himself, and in ignoring them, we risk losing Him. May we choose mercy now, before the chasm becomes eternal.
This weekend we begin our stewardship renewal. I plead with you to take this time to renew your commitment to the Lord and how He is calling you to give of yourself. Take the time in prayer to consider what God is calling you to. Pray about your financial offering to the Lord. Pray about how he is guiding you to deepen your prayer life. Pray about how He is calling you to service.
Take the time to read through the renewal materials and to fill out your renewal card. Please fill one out even if you don’t think you need to. It’s a moment to recommit and it’s a moment to take the temperature of the parish. You can fill out the card we send you or you may find it online. May we be good stewards of what God has given us.
Father Arisman