Daily Readings - Sun Sep 29 2019
Amos
1"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!4"Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,6who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!7Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away."
1 Timothy
11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Luke
19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--28for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between wealth, justice, and eternal life. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a prophetic warning to those who live in luxury while ignoring the suffering of others. Amos condemns the complacency of the wealthy who indulge in fine foods, music, and comforts while failing to notice the plight of the poor. This passage is set in a time of relative prosperity in Israel, but it was a prosperity that masked deep social inequalities. Amos calls the people back to justice and compassion, reminding them that true faith cannot coexist with indifference to the marginalized.
The Gospel parable of Lazarus and the rich man reinforces this message. The rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, feasted every day while Lazarus, a beggar covered in sores, lay at his gate. The rich man’s eternal torment is not simply because of his wealth, but because he failed to see Lazarus as a brother worthy of love and dignity. The chasm between the two in the afterlife reflects the chasm the rich man created in life by ignoring Lazarus’ suffering. This parable is not just about wealth and poverty; it is about the moral obligation to recognize the humanity in those around us and to act with compassion.
The second reading from 1 Timothy provides a bridge between these two reflections. It urges us to pursue justice, piety, faith, and charity, and to fight the good fight of faith. This is not a call to perfection but to authenticity. The rich man in the Gospel failed to live authentically because he allowed his wealth to blind him to the needs of others. For us, living authentically means using our resources—whether they be time, talent, or treasure—to serve others and to build a more just world. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is measured not by what we have, but by how we use what we have to love God and neighbor.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Who are the Lazaruses in our lives? Are there people we pass by every day, ignoring their struggles or needs? The readings remind us that our choices have eternal consequences, but they also remind us that it is never too late to change. Let us strive to live with eyes that see, hearts that feel, and hands that serve. In doing so, we not only honor God but also build a world where no one is left at the gate.