26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C Homily

Today, as we listen to God's word, it is an opportunity to awaken our conscience. In the story, the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man doesn't appear to have done anything wrong, on the surface. He didn't hurt anyone, he didn't steal, he didn't break any of the 10 commandments of God. But in the afterlife, he found himself in hell, and a chasm separating him from Lazarus. His only sin, is that he neglected Lazarus, who was there at his doorstep.

One of the traditional teachings of the church has to do with the two types of sins. The sin of commission, and the sin of omission. In the confiteor, we humbly acknowledged our sins. In my thoughts, and in my words, in what I have done, and what I have failed to do. The sins of commissions are the things that we have done. The sins of commission are the sins in which we have failed to do. The Lord's parable offers a need to also to give attention to the things that we have failed to do. According to the prophet Amos, God will deal harsh judgment if we ignore the people that are in need.

Being a disciple of Christ, we are called to reach out to those who are less fortunate. There are so many people that need help, and often we can feel overwhelmed. Many of us don't have the capacity to lift people out of poverty. Even if we give away everything we have, it would hardly make a dent in the problem of poverty. The Lord Jesus didn't have a grand strategy for solving the problem of poverty. He just reached out to people, one by one. He invites us to do the same. We don't have to have the grand solution for the problem of poverty. We can do so, by helping one person at a time, especially those that we encounter as part of our daily lives. One person shared that he helps his grandson with college education. One grandmother shared that she helps babysit for her daughter during the summer. Some members of our staff and volunteers help with the New Bethlehem project. There are so many wonderful stories of Christians who reach out to those who are less fortunate. We may not solve the world's problems, but we can always make a small difference.

The parable of the Lord, is meant to awaken our conscience. Have we ignored the needs of another person, especially if we are able to help? Have we neglected a person that needs our help? Are we familiar with the resources that are being offered in our community? Have we quickly dismissed someone? Have we justify our response for our lack of action? What can we do differently? How can we change our attitude and behavior towards someone in need? You can imagine that if we all work together, and did something small to help someone, how wonderful and life-changing it would be in our world.

I remember a saying that goes something like this: When we are at the gates of heaven, we will need lots of reference letters from the people that we have helped.