Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Amos 6:1.4-7; I Timothy 6:11-16; Lucas 16:19-31)
In Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice” someone says,
“Even the devil can quote Scripture.” We
know instinctively this is true. Wicked
people are not ashamed to exploit the Bible for their own purposes. More than an exhortation on behalf of the
poor, today’s gospel discloses this type of fraud characteristic of some
Pharisees in Jesus’ time.
In the passage Jesus addresses the Pharisees. The evangelist Luke tells us a few verses
earlier that the Pharisees “love(d) money.” They are also known as devout
laymen who always attend synagogue services.
In fact, ostensibly they fulfill the Mosaic law. However, they shirk the parts that entail
compassion and charity. It can be said
that they favor the Book of Deuteronomy, the biblical book emphasizing
blessings for those who worship God.
Many readers of Deuteronomy assume that if a person has prospered in
life, then it is because God has blessed them.
Jesus gives the parable of Lazarus and the rich man to
undermine this false interpretation of the Book of Deuteronomy. The story is simple. A rich man pays no attention to the beggar
Lazarus who lies at his door. The rich
man dresses like a king and eats like a prince.
Meanwhile, Lazarus is covered with ulcers and serves as food for the
dogs. But in life after death there is a
reversal of fortunes. Lazarus rests in
peace while the rich man suffers. Then the rich man asks that Lazarus go to
warn his brothers that they might change their ways. He receives the answer that they will not
change their ways even if the warning came from one who has risen from the
dead.
With this parable Jesus wants to transmit the message to the
Pharisees that they have to read the Scriptures diligently and practice what
they teach completely. It is not a
question of judging oneself blessed because one has accumulated riches. No, God commands in the law that those with
means assist those in need. The wealth
that the rich man of the parable accumulates are, according to the psalms, no
more than a puff of wind.
More importantly, Jesus warns the Pharisees that they must
read the Scriptures carefully in order to understand what will happen once he
is crucified. His resurrection from the
dead will fulfill what Genesis says about the Lord being the God of the loving,
not of the dead. Also, his resurrection
will fulfill the promise of God to Abraham that he will be the father of many
nations. It will also fulfill the
prophecy of Ezekiel where he speaks of the bones reforming themselves into
living human beings. Finally, it will
confirm the new covenant which God promises through Jeremiah.
Like the Pharisees we must take care to follow the
Scriptures diligently. First, it
behooves us to read the Bible. St.
Jerome wrote, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” We should not be concerned that a personal
reading of Scripture will lead us astray.
There are many Bible classes and commentaries that can help us obtain
the correct interpretation. Secondly,
following Christ whom we know through the Scriptures will assure that we
overcome the great stumbling stones the world puts in the way of holiness. By paying attention to Biblical teachings we
will not succumb to laziness or the desire
for excessive pleasure.
Sentimentality makes us think that everybody will experience
the glory of Christ’s resurrection. However, this type of thinking contradicts
Jesus’ teaching. As we have discovered
reading the gospel passages of recent Sundays, the Lord frequently reminds his
disciples of the sacrifices that are required of them. In one passage he says, “’Strive to enter
through the narrow gate,…’” That is, let
us keep in mind all his commands. He
does not want us to obsess wondering if we have done everything necessary to
enter eternal life. But he does want us
to show our love of God above all by assisting those who suffer need. He wants us to show our love for God by
serving those in need.
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