Today’s Scriptures clearly warn “the wealthy” there will be consequences if they remain complacent while others are suffering. And so they instruct Godly people to work for the well-being of others, and to do so especially for those who are most needy. These Scriptures may prompt us to reflect on our own “wealth,” and our willingness (or not) to serve others with whatever time, treasures, and/or talents we might have.
The Prophet Amos absolutely condemned those who were concerned only for themselves. He specifically criticized those who lived in luxury and who ignored the plight of the downtrodden. He said such people “anointed themselves with expensive oils, listened to frivolous music of harps, feasted on the finest of the lambs and calves, consumed vast amounts of wine, stretched comfortably on soft couches, slept on fancy beds inlaid with ivory, and all the while were not even slightly ‘made ill’ by the misfortunes of others” (cf. Amos 6:1a, 4-7).
Jesus used the “Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus” in order to preach a similar lesson. He spoke of “a lavishly dressed rich man who dined sumptuously each day, and who would deny even scraps from his table to Lazarus, a sore-covered, poor and hungry man who laid outside his door” (cf. Luke 16:19-31).
The Prophet Amos proclaimed such people would be “the first to go into exile,” while Jesus indicated they would be sent “to the netherworld, where they would forever suffer torment.” In each account, it’s clear those criticized were very selfish and had miserably failed to help those in need.
I believe the temptation to such complacency wouldn’t have been limited only to people who had great material wealth. The obligation to care for the needs of others, especially for the most needy, has always been required of all God’s children, no matter how rich or poor they have been. Maybe this is true now more than ever!
For us, the clear message of today’s Scriptures is that none of us should become so complacent, and so distracted by our own needs and wants, that we fail to care for those who are less fortunate. This doesn’t mean we’re necessarily called to imitate St. Francis of Assisi and other saints who gave away all their possessions in order to serve the poor for the rest of their lives. It also doesn’t mean we risk eternal damnation if we discern we need not give a few coins to a particular homeless person begging on a corner. But I believe it does mean we are called, in whatever ways we can, to use our time, our treasures and our talents in order to serve those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Those criticized in today’s Scriptures weren’t simply faulted because they were wealthy and had enjoyed material benefits during their lives. They were condemned because they cared only for themselves, and they were complacently unable and/or unwilling to do anything about the plight of the poor and needy who lived right alongside of them. They were “not even slightly ‘made ill’ by the misfortunes of others.” And so they found themselves “first to go into exile,” and sent “to the netherworld, where they would forever suffer torment.”
May it not be so with us! Instead, may we enthusiastically share whatever “wealth” we have–that is, our time, our treasures, and/or our talents–in order to serve those among us who are most in need! My friends, let’s encourage each other with this message!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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