Deacon Paul Phạm
Meditation For The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Amos 6:1a, 4–7; 1 Timothy 6:11–16; Luke 16:19–31
Introduction
In today’s Gospel, Jesus paints a vivid scene of two men: one clothed in purple and fine linen, feasting every day, and another, a poor man named Lazarus, covered in sores and longing for crumbs from the rich man’s table. At first glance, this seems like a simple morality tale about being charitable. But Jesus’ story digs far deeper—into the eternal consequences of ignoring God’s call to love the poor, into the dangers of complacency, and into the urgency of listening to His Word now.
The famous Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said:
“The rich man was not condemned because he was rich, but because he loved no one but himself.”
Our readings today challenge us not simply to avoid cruelty, but to guard against the subtle sin of indifference—turning a blind eye to those whom God places at our gate.
First Reading – Amos 6:1a, 4–7
Amos delivers a sharp rebuke to the complacent leaders of Israel who live in luxury while the nation decays morally and spiritually. He warns that those “lying upon beds of ivory” will be the first to go into exile. Prosperity without compassion and without repentance becomes a curse, not a blessing.
Gospel – Luke 16:19–31
In Jesus’ parable, the rich man’s sin is not actively abusing Lazarus, but ignoring him. He sees Lazarus every day—right outside his gate—but does nothing. Even in the afterlife, he still sees Lazarus as someone to send on errands rather than as a brother.
The dialogue with Abraham emphasizes that salvation hinges not on spectacular miracles but on listening to “Moses and the prophets,” which means obeying God’s Word while we still have time.
Second Reading – 1 Timothy 6:11–16
St. Paul urges Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness” and to “fight the good fight of the faith.” This is the antidote to the rich man’s laziness: a life of active virtue, directed toward God and service to others.
Application to Our Life
The “Lazarus” at our gate may not be a beggar with sores. It could be:
- A lonely neighbor who longs for someone to talk to.
- A family member estranged from us.
- A co-worker quietly struggling with depression.
- A refugee family in need of a new start.
The challenge is to notice and act. Spiritual blindness can be worse than physical blindness, because we can walk past suffering every day without seeing it.
St. John Chrysostom warned:
“Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life.”
This week, the Lord calls us to examine not just what we do, but what we ignore. Are we seeking comfort while neglecting the demands of mercy? Are we relying on the hope of a “later” conversion that may never come?
Summary of Today’s Theme
God has placed “Lazarus” at each of our gates—not to burden us, but to save us. Salvation is not just about avoiding evil, but about actively loving. The Word of God is already given to us; the time to respond is now.
Three Points to Take Home
- Indifference kills love – The sin of the rich man was ignoring, not harming. Neglect is as deadly as cruelty.
- God’s Word is enough – We don’t need miracles to know what to do; Scripture already calls us to love and justice.
- Act now, not later – Our eternal destiny is shaped by the choices we make today toward the people God places before us.
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)