Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Throughout this week, the readings and the feasts of the saints call us again and again to contemplate the angels and to serve the poor. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. This rich man is so obsessed with the pursuit of pleasure, that his very identity is lost! He has the finest clothes and feasts, but he no longer has a name… we don’t hear of any family to whom he belongs. We don’t hear of any friends. We don’t hear of any connection to God. In his excess, this man’s humanity has become quite diminished. In contrast, Lazarus, through all his suffering, in the midst of his great need, does not forget who he is, nor does he forget whose eyes are upon him when all others (except the dogs) have turned away. It is Lazarus whom the angels take. It is Lazarus whom they lay to rest on the bosom of Abraham.
As Our Lord tells us this parable, do we allow His words to change us? Perhaps we got distracted over the summer and indulged in the rich man’s pursuit of pleasure. Perhaps the people and the God to whom we belong took second place to our own whims. Our Good Shepherd calls us to remember our name. To hear His voice calling us by that name again. He invites us to see that His care for us exceeds all that our excesses falsely promised. And He calls us to see our brothers and sisters whom He is looking upon, whose names He knows as well, to whom He is sending His angels and to whom He wants to send us. Let us pray this week and ask the angels to help us be attentive to our loving Lord, and to be prompt in sharing His love with our neighbor.