Thus says the Lord, the God of Hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion” (Amos 6:1a)
In the beginning of the first reading this weekend, we read how the prophet Amos lived in a time much like our own, when there was a significant gap between the wealthy, who lived in luxury while getting rich off the backs of the poor, and the impoverished, widows, orphans, and aliens, who were sick, often homeless, and starving to death. The prophet does not condemn wealth itself but rather the complacency that accompanies it—a complacency that we, who are relatively wealthy and reasonably secure and satisfied, must avoid if we want salvation.
Today’s Gospel gives an example of a complacent, wealthy person: the rich man who lived in luxury while the beggar, Lazarus, lay at his door, starving, covered with sores, and licked by the dogs. The rich man ignored Lazarus. He was out of touch with his suffering. As a result, the rich man found torment in hell, while Lazarus lay in the bosom of Abraham in heaven. Getting comfortable while there is so much suffering around us, even “at our doors,” will not go well for us. We may end up like the rich man.
Especially in his later years, Pope Francis bemoaned our indifference toward those who suffer. The rich man was not evil; he did nothing to harm Lazarus. However, he did not notice him or reach out to him. We, too, are not evil people, but we can still be complacent when so many in our own communities and throughout the world are struggling. I often hear people say that they no longer watch the news on television or social media because they do not want to see all the suffering in the world. I have been there myself. However, we cannot afford to ignore that suffering. Witnessing it and responding with our best efforts—holding the suffering in our own bosoms—will bring us into the bosom of Abraham.
The “pillars” of our St. Isidore community, based on our mission statement, can guide us: Connect With God (with gratitude for all we have), Reach Others (especially the suffering at our doors), and Build Community (where those who suffer are noticed and cared for).
