THE WORD THIS WEEKEND

This weekend at Catholic mass you will hear a passage from Luke's Gospel chapter 16.  It is a  recount of one of Jesus' parables involving the rich and the poor.  It is pretty simple.  The rich man lived in luxury and the poor man, who lain at his doorstep, suffered greatly.  After they both die, the rich man is seen suffering in Hell and the poor man basking in the glory of God in Heaven.  Pretty cut and dried.

Earlier in Luke's gospel, chapter 6, he gives his version of the beatitudes which Jesus taught thusly:  "Blessed are you poor for the kingdom of God is yours.  Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh."  Today's story hearkens back to these beatitudes.

Looking more deeply, the interesting part of this dichotomy is the sin by the rich man.  It was not something that he did.  It was something that he didn't do.  He ignored the poor man.  He committed a sin by doing nothing - nothing to help the poor although he surely could have.

God expects us to do more than nothing; more than not be real bad.  We are expected to do what we can.  Everything we have is a gift from God.  Gifts are made to be given - not salted away, not just used.  Share your wealth - share your talents -  share your time.

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