Sunday, September 28, 2025
The Word of God is a living treasure, not just an ancient collection of letters. The Holy Spirit makes the Scriptures continually speak anew, revealing new insights and deeper meanings with each reading. As we engage with the Scriptures, we embark on a journey that enriches our faith and understanding, inviting us to explore divine wisdom and grow in faith, hope, and love.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in today’s Gospel tells of a wealthy man who lived in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus lay at his gate, longing for food. After they both died, Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side, while the rich man suffered in torment. He begged for relief, but Abraham reminded him of their lives. The rich man then asked for Lazarus to warn his brothers, but Abraham said they should listen to the teachings they already had. There is a great amount of detail that can be easily overlooked, so let’s dig deeper into the Reading. The rich man “wore purple and fine linens.” In the ancient world, purple dye and fine linen were so costly that they were reserved for kings and the aristocracy. They were associated with refined luxury and comfort and advertised a person’s wealth. The rich man “dined sumptuously each day,” tells of excess. He likely had servants who constantly weighed on him, even on the Sabbath, forcing them to break the Jewish law. Lazarus, not the brother of Martha and Mary, was a sick and weak man “covered in sores”. Kind people presumably vainly placed him at the door of the rich man in hopes that he would be merciful and charitable towards him. “Dogs licked Lazarus’ sores,” may seem to make it worse, but scientifically, canine saliva has proven to have slight antibacterial properties. This suggests that the dogs responded to Lazarus with kindness and mercy, in contrast to the rich man’s response. “When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.” A metaphor for the blessed, restful state of the righteous dead.
The parable illustrates that a person’s eternal fate is not solely based on their material condition. It highlights the spiritual consequences of an uncharitable heart and the dangers of making wealth an end in itself. The rich man’s fate resulted from his failure to love his neighbor, while the “bosom of Abraham” symbolizes blessedness rather than a reward for poverty. Wealth can lead to indifference to others’ suffering, whereas poverty, combined with humility and openness to God, can be a source of grace.
Last Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the leaders of nations would use money and resources to promote the common good rather than using “wealth against humanity” by “turning it into weapons that destroy peoples.” He said, “Whoever serves God becomes free from wealth; but whoever serves wealth remains its slave.” Whether we are blessed with material abundance or live in poverty, the Gospel calls us to supreme love: those who have enough are invited to practice the “greatest love” by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sharing their resources with those in need; those who are poor are called to receive God’s mercy with humble gratitude, trusting in the grace that can transform their circumstances.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.