Gospel Reflection 2021/2022

Sin is real.

YouCat #315 defines SIN as: ‘a word, deed, or intention by which man deliberately and voluntarily offends against the true order of things, as God’s loving providence has arranged them [CCC 1849-1851, 1871-1872].’

In simple words, SIN is a rejection of God’s objective truth and God’s love.

Hell is real.

Our unrepented sins can lead us to the final and eternal separation from God in hell.

YouCat #53 teaches that HELL is ‘the condition of final (and eternal) separation from God’, and ‘anyone who sees love clearly in the face of God and, nevertheless, does not want it decides freely to have this condition (HELL) instead’.

Every time we choose to reject God’s objective truth and God’s love (SIN), we are paving the way for the final and eternal separation from God (HELL).

The Four LAST Things.

In the Gospel reading this 26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Parable of Jesus on ‘the rich man and poor Lazarus’ reminds us once again what the Catholic Church refers to as the Four Last Things: DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN and HELL.

Jesus tells us [Lk 16: 22], “The poor man (Lazarus) died… The rich man also died…” Regardless of who we are – whether we are poor or rich – we have the same destiny, i.e., DEATH. And the way we live our life on this earth determines our Final Destination (JUDGEMENT): whether we will end up in HEAVEN (eternal life) or in HELL (eternal death).

The rich of the world and the poor of the Lord.

Why was the rich man condemned to hell? He was not condemned so much because he ‘used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently everyday’ [Lk 16: 19]. Rather, he was condemned because of his oblivion and indifference towards the poor Lazarus who was at his gate. The rich man has failed to love; he has failed to show mercy. Yes, Jesus condemns all those who use their earthly possessions in very selfish ways, but do not show love and mercy to those in need.

Our Lord Jesus Himself was poor.

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [Lk 9: 58]

Remember, our Lord Jesus Himself was poor:

• • Jesus was a migrant: Pregnant with Jesus, Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea to be registered in the census. [Lk 2: 1-5]

• • Jesus was poor: While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her child. There was no place for them in the inn, and Jesus was born in a filthy and deplorable stable in the countryside. [Lk 2: 6-7]

• • Jesus was with the marginalised, the outcast and the forsaken: The Good News was first announced by the angels to the poor shepherds in the field, and they came to worship Him. [Lk 2: 8-18]

• • Jesus was a refugee: Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus had to escape to Egypt and stayed there for quite a while because King Herod ruler of that time intended to hunt down Jesus and kill Him. [Mt 2: 13-18]

Whatever we fail to do for the poor, we fail to do for Christ.

Jesus has warned us [Mt 25: 45], “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.”

Christ is with the poor; Christ is in the poor. Whatever we fail to do for the poor, we fail to do for Christ!

Mother Teresa of Calcutta rightfully says that:

“At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done.

We will be judged by: “I was hungry and you gave Me to eat. I was naked and you clothed Me. I was homeless and you took Me in.” [cf. Mt 25:35-40]

Hungry not only for bread –

but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing –

but naked of human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks –

but homeless because of rejection.

Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them.”

We and the poor Lazarus of the 21^st century.

The Lazarus of the 21^st century stands at our gates, yes, everyday. But can we recognize him?

He could be:

• a single parent who struggles to support the family,

• a victim of domestic abuse who stays in the neighbourhood,

• a migrant worker who attends to us,

• a delivery man who sends food to our doorsteps,

• an elderly who stays alone,

• a friend who is fighting depression,

• a homeless who sleeps under the bridge…

• or he could even be a priest who suffers silently.

Christ is with the poor; Christ is in the poor. Whatever we fail to do for the poor, we fail to do for Christ! And Pope Francis reminds us [General Audience | 18 May 2016], “To ignore a poor man is to scorn God! … God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour…”

Only by showing love and mercy, will love and mercy be shown us. And these two insistent questions remain, “Who is the Lazarus at my gate?” and “What am I to do?”

Let our fervent prayer be:

“Lord Jesus Christ, make me Your instrument of love and mercy.”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.