Gospel Reading for September 28, 2025 – Luke 16: 19-31
SUCH A SHAME
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.'”
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It is never too late to change while on earth, but it will be too late when our time is up to leave the earth. Perhaps, if all peoples of the world would think this way, life on earth will be so good and beautiful. If all of us are truly aware that life is fleeting, we would not be wasting our time on things that will not matter at all in the after life. We will make every second of our life be counted among the beautiful things contributed by man to the world. Perhaps, a person in his/her right mind would rather choose eternal over fleeting.
The story of Jesus gives emphasis to SINS OF OMISSION. A lot of us think that sin is doing something wrong to others or even to ourselves only. We do not see that it is also a sin not to help when we are in a position to help someone in need. Imagine the big difference between the “rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day” and “Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.” The rich man need not wait for Lazarus to ask for scraps. He should have been thoughtful enough to share some of his food with Lazarus. It is SUCH A SHAME when we are eating more than what our bodies need, while someone is so much in need of food; while there are those who are obese from eating too much and there are those dying of hunger!
No wonder, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said: Love for God and Love for neighbor. We have to remember that all that we have comes from God. There is no such thing as being a “self-made” person. AI describes “self-made person” as someone who achieves wealth, success, or status through their own efforts rather than through inheritance or external advantages, often starting from modest beginnings.” Therefore, there is no such thing as “own efforts” because if a person is not gifted by God with the ability to make efforts, nothing can be achieved.
Lord, teach us to share with those in need knowing that we are in a far better position to give what we have received from you!
