Sunday
- 28 September 2025 – XXVI Sunday in Ordinary Time of the year (Year C)
Mass
Readings: Amos 6:1.4-7 Ps 146
1Tim 6:11-16 Lk 16:19-31
Key
Verse to Meditate: "And a certain poor man
named Lazarus awas laid at his gate, covered with sores
(Lk 16:20).
Dear brothers and sisters in the
Lord,
The Twenty Sixth Sunday in
Ordinary time calls our attention to the plight of the poor in the light of the
parable, the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. In the First reading of
today, prophet Amos warns against self-indulgence and preaches that God will
punish the self-sufficient rich who ignore the plight of the poor. In the second reading of today St. Paul in his first pastoral letter to
Timothy teaches that Faith calls us to perseverance, generosity, and hope in
eternal life. The Gospel presents today a parable unique to Lukan Gospel,
namely the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Meditating the parable one
underlying question that we can contemplate is this: Does our lifestyle on
earth determine the life we will inherit in eternity with all the saints?
The First Reading – A Warning from the
Prophet Amos
In today’s first reading, the prophet Amos issues
a strong warning against the attitude of self-sufficiency displayed by the
wealthy, who turn a blind eye to the suffering of the poor. His message is not
limited to Israel alone but extends to the surrounding nations who also
disregarded Israel’s misery. Amos proclaims God’s judgment upon the
self-indulgent rich (Amos 6:4, 6).
Chapter 6 of Amos contains a series of woes (Amos
6:1–6), denouncing the affluent classes in Jerusalem and Samaria who lived in
luxury, reclining on ivory couches and feasting, while ignoring justice and
righteousness. For such arrogance and neglect, Amos warns that they will be the
first to go into exile (Amos 6:7). In other words, because of their
self-indulgence, neglect of responsibility, oppression of the poor, and
abandonment of the Lord, they would be led away as captives at the very front
of the line. His message is a timeless call reminding us that wealth and
comfort, when detached from compassion and justice, lead to ruin.
The Second Reading – Fight the Good Fight
of Faith
In the second reading, from the First Letter to
Timothy, St. Paul exhorts us to “fight the good fight of faith.” He urges: “But
as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, gentleness” (1 Tim 6:11). To be a disciple of
Christ means not only avoiding evil but actively seeking and cultivating
virtue.
Paul challenges Timothy to keep his heart set on
God’s will, to live a life beyond reproach, and to remain faithful in his
ministry. Just as an athlete trains with determination for the prize (Phil
3:13–14; 1 Cor 9:24–27), so too must Timothy—and we as well—strive for eternal
life, the ultimate goal for which we have been called and consecrated. Faith,
then, is not passive; it is an active, ongoing struggle, a daily pursuit of
righteousness and fidelity to God.
The Gospel – The Rich Man and Lazarus
Today’s Gospel gives us the
famous parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, narrated only in the Gospel of
Luke. The parable is divided into two parts: the first unfolds on earth (Lk
16:19–22), and the second in Hades (Lk 16:23–31).
At the outset, Jesus presents a striking contrast: a rich man clothed in
luxury and a poor man, Lazarus, covered with sores, lying helplessly at his
gate (Lk 16:19–21). God created both rich and poor, but wealth is entrusted to
us so that it may be shared. To live in abundance while ignoring the suffering
of others is, in God’s eyes, to have gained nothing.
The Sin of Indifference
The rich man’s sin was not his wealth, but his
indifference. Lazarus was at his very doorstep, yet he remained unseen. The
dogs that licked Lazarus’s sores, a symbol of contempt in that culture,
received more attention than the poor man himself. In abandoning Lazarus to
such humiliation, the rich man revealed a heart hardened by self-sufficiency.
This is the same complacency condemned by the prophet Amos in today’s first
reading.
A Call to See Christ in the Poor
The Church, with the
witness of the saints, calls us to recognize Christ in the poor. Jesus is
present in the suffering, the neglected, and the marginalized. Yet, in our age,
our attachment to wealth, comfort, and even technology often blinds us to those
beside us.
The parable shows a
dramatic reversal. The rich man, with his possessions and comforts, ends up in
Hades, while Lazarus, poor, sick, and friendless, is carried by the angels to
the bosom of Abraham. Jesus warns us: “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:19–21).
Our present life is a
preparation for eternal life. If our hearts are enslaved by earthly
possessions, we risk losing the eternal joy of God’s kingdom.
The Danger of Attachment to
Wealth
The rich man’s only concern was pleasure. He had everything, yet lacked
vision for eternity. Jesus reminds us: “For what does it profit a man to
gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk 8:36). Wealth without love
of neighbour leads to spiritual poverty.
Again, Jesus cautions His disciples: “It will be hard for a rich
person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom
of God” (Mt 19:23–24). Wealth becomes dangerous when it blinds us to God
and neighbour.
The Request from Hades
From the place of torment, the rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to
warn his brothers. Abraham replies: “If they do not listen to Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead”
(Lk 16:31).
This points us to Christ’s own resurrection. Even miracles cannot move
hearts that are hardened by greed and selfishness. Interestingly, the rich man
calls Lazarus by name—showing that he knew him during his earthly life, yet
never lifted a hand to help. The one who was insignificant to him has now
become an intercessor.
The Silent Witness of
Lazarus
Lazarus remains silent throughout the parable. He does not complain
against God, nor accuse the rich man. Even in the bosom of Abraham, he utters
no word of triumph or revenge. His silence is powerful: it is God who sees, God
who judges, and God who rewards. Our task is not to demand justice for
ourselves but to trust that God will act in His time.
The Call of St. Paul
St. Paul echoes this lesson
in today’s second reading: “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the
eternal life, to which you were called” (1 Tim 6:12). He exhorts Timothy to
live faithfully, keeping God’s commandments until the coming of Christ. Faith
is a struggle, but it leads us to eternal life.
Points for Reflection
- Whom
do I resemble in this passage—the rich man or Lazarus?
- What
is my attitude toward the poor and suffering around me?
- Do I
live with faith in eternal life, or am I absorbed by temporary pleasures?
- Where
is my heart truly attached—to wealth and possessions, or to God?
So, what will I do today to
ensure that my treasure is in heaven, and not lost in the fleeting wealth of
this world?
God is not against the
rich. He is against the ruthless, self-sufficient rich who ignore the poor.
Earthly goods will pass away. One day, we must leave everything behind and
stand before God’s judgment seat.
Conclusion
The parable of the Rich Man
and Lazarus invites us to open our eyes and hearts to the suffering around us.
Our eternal destiny depends not on how much we possess, but on how much we
share. May we learn to see Christ in the poor, store up treasures in heaven,
and remain faithful until we inherit eternal life with Him.
