Sunday Says Podcast – September 29, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflection

Our responsorial Psalm 146, reminds us again of God’s concern for the oppressed, the hungry; the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.  It reminds also us that God lifts up the humble.  This is very much in line with teachings from the first reading

 

The Second Reading comes from the first letter of Saint Paul to Timothy   In order to incite Timothy to greater virtue and zeal in practicing his ministry, the Apostle Paul compares the practice of the faith to the Greek exercises of the gymnasium, of which the people of New Testament times were very familiar.  His emphasis is on the need for perseverance and training, just as in bodily exercises. Timothy –in his ministerial priesthood- is reminded that his role is not unlike the men of God in the Old Testament such Moses, Samuel, and Elijah.  Like them he is called to fight the good fight, serving as a model Christian by keeping the truth pure, and reflecting the purity of the truth by his own pure actionsGospel:

Gospel:  Luke 16:19-31

In our reading from the Gospel of Luke I am reminded of a homily by my former pastor, in which this reading was given the title “The Man who went to Hell for Doing Nothing”.  This reading indeed describes a rich man in Hell for not for what he DID, but what he did NOT do.  Was it the rich man’s fault that Lazarus suffered?   Yes and no.  The story doesn’t say whether the rich man inflicted intentional suffering on Lazarus which would clearly have been evil.  However, the evil is what the Rich Man failed to do — the fact that he did nothing to ease Lazarus’ suffering.    In our general confession at Mass, also known as the Confiteor, we are reminded of our Sins of omission, in other words, not only what I have done, but also what I have failed to do.  Like the first reading from the prophet Amos, we are called not to be complacent….but to SEEK OPPORTUNTIES TO DO GOOD.  It has been suggested that in the end perhaps our greatest regrets will be all the Good things we could have done but chose not to.  Throughout scripture we see God’s attention is drawn to those who suffer.  This story is meant to give us pause.  How often do we truly seek out the suffering in order to render mercy in the same way the God does?

 Theme song – Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc 

 

Background Music Credits:

all from Creative Commons, http://freemusicarchive.org/