Am 6:1a, 4-7
1 Tm 6:11-16
Lk 16:19-31

Important Choices

All the readings of this Sunday are continuations of the readings of last Sunday. They center on the day of God’s judgment. Most importantly, they point to the end of the unjust and point to the triumph and comfort of the poor and just. Amos speaks strongly against those who live in comfort while others suffer. His words show that God wants justice for all people. 

1 Timothy’s  warning tells us, “Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion!.” This is a reminder to be people of God who pursue virtues and hold onto eternal life, keeping commandments until Christ’s return. 

In the gospel. Jesus uses a parable to contrast a rich man’s luxurious life with Lazarus, a destitute man. He teaches that at his death, Lazarus found comfort with Abraham, while the rich man suffered. After death, it’s too late to change things.

Today’s gospel is unique because it mentions what Christians believe about our end time – death, judgment, and reward/punishment. The parable is about a rich man and poor man named Lazarus.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the  netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.

All the readings tell us we must pay heed to the instructions of the good news of salvation while there is still time for us to do so. Living lives of extreme comfort, and displaying affluence here on earth that does not positively impact others, especially the poor, will not help us at the end of our time. Therefore, we need to pay attention to the word of God we hear every day. It calls us to use our earthly possession to help the poor and weak. The true and wise disciple of Christ is the one who lives each day as if it was the last one we will have. Only those who work for it with faith, patience, love, gratitude, and reverence for God and others will get there, will reach the positive ending with their loving God for all eternity.

What thoughts and feelings do you have about the end of your life?

In what ways can you live each day so that you have the positive ending of being with your loving God for all eternity?