26th Sunday Ordinary C/ Poor Lazarus and Rich man
  Amos 6:1-7/ Ps 146/ 1 Tim 6:11-16/ Luke 16: 19-31
  Introduction
 

          There is an Arabian story about the teacher who asked his students, “How do you know that there is enough light?” He told his students that there is enough light if you see the camel walking towards you. Then he asked again, “How do you know if there is enough light?” There is enough light if you see a Camel walking towards, and you see the man riding on it. For third time he asked, “How do you know if there is enough light?” If you see a Camel and the man on it, walking towards you and in the eyes of that man, you see an image of a brother, then you have enough light.

          Perhaps there is no enough light in the spirit of the rich man in today’s Gospel because he failed to see the miserable poverty of Lazarus while he was enjoying his luxurious way of life.

 
  Background
 
  1. During those times there were no knives, forks or napkins. Food was eaten with the hands and in very wealthy houses; the hands were cleansed by wiping them on hunks of bread, which were then thrown away. Lazarus was waiting for that bread to fall from the rich man’s table. That’s how poor he was.

  2. We can also see the contrast between coverings of their bodies. The rich man wore purple linen and fine clothes while Lazarus’ body was covered with sore that dogs used to lick. But it was surprising to know, that since only important people are named in the Bible, the rich man was not named but only the poor man. Lazarus is the Latinized word for “Eleazar” and it means “depended on God.” Even though he lives in deep pain and misery he still survives because he depends only with God’s blessings. Amos and Luke are both champion of cause for the poor, as today’s readings made it clear. For that matter, even today’s second reading is exhorting the rich “not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God.”
  3. The rich man wanted to warn his family by asking Abraham to send Lazarus to them.  Even from the depths of the netherworld, the rich man clings to the illusion of his superior status and commands Lazarus, now safe in the bosom of Abraham, to run and fetch him water. Like the leisured and lazy classes in Jerusalem in the first reading, at the time of Amos, who were incapable of imagining the collapse of Joseph, the rich man cannot grasp the reality of his tormented situation and persists in thinking that he can at lease secure his family’s future using his influence and authority. But Abraham did not give in to his demands. One of our present saints shared with the same arguments with Abraham, “Those who do not want to believe no proof is sufficient but hose who wants to believe no proof is necessary.”
  
  Reflection:  
 
  1. The theology of Hell and Purgatory. Almost all Christian denominations believe in heaven and hell but not all believe in Purgatory. In today’s Gospel there was a mention of a “great chasm” that prevents the rich man to crossover to the place of Lazarus. We should remember that even Catholics also believe that those poor souls in hell have no chance of going to heaven. But we continue to pray for the “souls of the dead” who are in Purgatory because we know that there are also good people who are on their way to heaven but unfortunately still in need of spiritual cleansing.
  2. The real danger of riches, Jesus says, is the “numbness” of the rich man.  He has no feelings of compassion to the pains and anxiety of Lazarus. What are more important to him are only himself and his family. Many people nowadays do not care if other people are eating or not, as long as they have food on their tables. This is the greatest crime in today’s time – the sense of too much privacy and indifference.
  3. There is a difference between Sin of Omission and the Sin of Commission. Many people go to hell not because they do bad or harm other people, no! They go to hell because they failed to do good to those who ask for help. The rich man did no physical harm to Lazarus. He did not remove him from his gate. He did not kick him in the passing. The sin of the rich man is to let Lazarus die of pain and hunger while he wallowed in luxury. It is not that he did no wrong to Lazarus, but that he failed to do something good to him while he cries for hunger and pain.
 
  Conclusion  
 

         How do you know if there’s enough light? As what the Arabian teacher used to ask. Unfortunately there is no enough light in the eyes of the rich because he failed to see the needs of the poor man Lazarus. His own wealth blinded him to see the image of a true brother. But Jesus has so much light “to see” that we are in pain of eternal damnation that’s why he gave his whole self to die on the cross to save us. We as Christians should also “have enough light to see” in the eyes the poor people around us, the true image of a brother who needs to be loved.