Be the agents of God's Grace and Blessings

Sept 25th, 16 Sunday homily – Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI
Am 6:1a,4-7; Ps 146:7-10; 1Tim 6:11-16; Lk 16:19-31

For readings

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092516.cfm

There was a beautiful lake that lost its zesty freshness. The water formerly had been clear. It was alluring to animals and people alike. But it became covered with a green scum. The farm animals became ill from drinking the water. Finally, someone came by the lake who understood the problem. Debris collecting from the hard spring rains had stopped up the dam and prevented the free flow of water out of the lake. The spillway was cleared, and soon the lake was fresh and clean again. The flow in and out is necessary to keep the water pure! Doesn't the same principle apply to every human being? The blessings of life flow to us, but sometimes we fail to realize that most of these blessings are not meant just to flow to us, but through us, for the good of others around us, especially for those in need. Today’s readings remind us to enable God’s blessings flow into us and flow out through us without ceasing.

The Prophet Amos, in the First Reading, reminds us not to become immersed with luxuries and pleasures keeping our eyes closed to our fellow beings in need. St. Paul, in the Second Reading, presents the qualities necessary for a true Christian and advises us to remain always ‘Men of God’ as we are the citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom.

In today’s Gospel, through the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus presents the need of charity to go along with faith in our life. It highlights the relation between this short earthly life and permanent life after our death. It reminds us of the need of listening to the scriptural teachings, and our eternal reward or rejection, which will be based on the way we live our earthly blessings here and now. The very name of the poor man in this story draws a special attention. This is the only time in Christ’s parables that a person’s name is used. The name "Lazarus" is a transliteration of the Hebrew name "Eleazar" which means "God has helped". This story is presented with two scenes in a dramatic way. The first scene presents the earthly life and the second scene, presents its heavenly reward and rejection corresponding to earthly life. The rich man feasted every day while the poor man starved at his gate suffering from poverty and bodily illness. The rich man showed no concern for him. It was a grave sin of omission and negligence. Because charity in our life is not an option but an obligation. The rich man’s great sin was not in what he did, but in what he failed to do for Lazarus! He was self-centered, not God-centered. A God-centered person will be other-centered.

There is a sign on the West Virginia Turnpike that says, "Driving while drowsy can put you to sleep - permanently." In our life journey too, if we get drowsy, uncaring living can put us to sleep permanently. That kind of person, Jesus says, is separating himself from God until it becomes permanent, by digging a chasm between one's self and heaven. God doesn’t forbid us from using the comforts and pleasures of this world. He wants us to rejoice in this life, enjoying it, by making use of this worldly blessings. But it has a purpose and principle. It has a principle of usage. It is God who provided everything in this world. God wants us to make use of all earthly blessings towards our heavenly kingdom. God wants all of His children to be happy. We have many examples of kings, queens, and the wealthiest, who have led a saintly life, using their earthly blessings and were happy.

This parable takes us to the Lazarus, who lives at our gate. The ‘Lazarus at our gate’ may be a domestic worker, a poor family across the street where we live, which is struggling to make ends meet, or it may be the lonely, the aged, homeless, the sick and the homebound, who long for a visit, or are eager to have our helping hand, in things we can do for them quite easily. Sometimes, it may be our own spouses and children who are starving for love, encouragement, emotional support, care or concern. Also, it may be our own souls or souls of those who are under our care, suffering from starvation, and sores of evil and deprivation of grace. Let us pray for grace to remain more God-centered, through a life of prayer and to be aware of the needs of others. Let us make all efforts to enable God’s blessings flow through us to others in need. Let us be the agents of God’s grace and blessings while we will also experience it as a gift of God. God bless you.