Reading 1
Am 6:1a, 4-7
Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
Reading 2
1 Tm 6:11-16
But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Gospel
Lk 16:19-31
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.'"
Meditation: Amos 6:1,4-7
“Woe to the complacent in Zion!” (Amos 6:1)
What a life for Israel’s upper class! They sleep on “beds of ivory.” They feast on “lambs” and “calves.” They “drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils” (Amos 6:4,6). Of course, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with all of this, and Amos knows it. The real problem that the prophet points to is that these privileged folk “are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph” (6:6). In other words, the needs of the poor among them fail to pierce their hearts or affect their behavior.
How about us? We live in an information-heavy age, when news hits our computer screens and televisions immediately as it is happening. All the tragedies and catastrophes of life can fill us with a sense of fear, frustration, and even sadness. And after a while, we can become hardened to it all, so accustomed to it that it no longer registers in our minds.
Don’t let that happen! Instead, take hold of the emotional energy you feel in the face of bad news and redirect it. Don’t withdraw from it all. Let it move you out into the world, eager to take action. Remember: These are your brothers and sisters—Jesus’ own brothers and sisters—who are suffering and crying out for help.
If a particular situation is laying heavy on your heart, commit to interceding for it. Ask God to help you find someone who is involved in that issue so that you can get involved yourself. Consider becoming a regular donor to a cause that is dear to your heart. There is no lack of opportunity!
None of us should feel helpless or inept when it comes to the needy of the world. And we certainly should not allow ourselves to become complacent in the face of suffering and hardship. We are all Jesus’ hands and feet in this world. Connected to him, we really can move mountains!
“Father, give me your heart of love toward the least of your brothers and sisters. Show me how to hold them up to you in prayer—and how to reach out to them with your love.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Amos 6:1,4-7, Psalm 146:7-10, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 16:19-31)
1. In the first reading, we hear of the fate of those who are “complacent,” “stretched comfortably on their couches,” “devise their own accomplishments,” and “anoint themselves with the best oils.” In what ways can we fall into these same selfish and self-centered actions in our own lives? What steps can we take to overcome them?
2. In the responsorial psalm, the fate of the selfish and self-centered person from the first reading is contrasted with God’s compassion and mercy on those who “keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry” (Psalm 146:7). How can you respond to this reading - individually, as a family, or with a group?
3. In the second reading from the first letter to Timothy, what are some of the actions that Paul lists as actions to be taken by a man or women of God? How does the way you live out your own life each day stack up against this list? How important to you is living your life as a man or women of God?
4. In the Gospel, again we are faced with a contrast – this time it is between the fate of a selfish and self-centered man and a lowly poor man. What do you think is the main message of this parable? How does it apply to your own life?
5. The meditation ends with these words: “None of us should feel helpless or inept when it comes to the needy of the world. And we certainly should not allow ourselves to become complacent in the face of suffering and hardship. We are all Jesus’ hands and feet in this world. Connected to him, we really can move mountains!” Can you identify groups or individuals to whom you can be “Jesus’ hands and feet”? Spend some time praying that you would have the grace to reach out to the “least of your brothers and sisters.” Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
No comments:
Post a Comment