Sept. 29, 2019 The Temptations of the Rich

Sept. 29, 2019 -  The Temptations of the Rich    Year C

Reading I:  Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Psalm:  146

Reading II:  1 Timothy 6:11-16


Gospel:  Luke 16:19-31

In the “Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus,” Jesus points out the temptation of the advantaged to focus on self-gratification and ignore the needs of the poor. Jesus warns them of the consequences.

While I did not grow up rich, I did grow up in an all-white neighborhood. My father had a secure job as a postman, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. I never knew anyone personally who was hungry. Also, I had not witnessed violence.

When television showed the attempts of people trying to prevent the integration of the University of Mississippi, I began to understand the situation of African Americans. This remains an indelible memory because it was an eye-opener for me. God was making me aware of those who were being oppressed.

Later, when I was teaching in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Xavier University, a historically Black, Catholic Institution, I learned even more. Every night on the news, we would hear about young black men being murdered. Nothing seemed to be done about it.

One Sister shared with me that the Sisters had received a desperate call from the mother of one of the Xavier students. Her son and friends were driving and took a wrong turn into a white neighborhood. The police pulled them over and took them to the police station. The young man called his mother to tell her where he was. She was terrified. Even though she knew they had not done anything wrong, their names would be put in a book, and they would be considered suspects whenever there was trouble in the future. Some of the Sisters went down to the station and would not leave until the names of the young men were taken out of the book. Only God knows if they were put back in when they left. The Sisters did what they could.

Another Sister in an elementary school shared that there was a valuable movie which she wanted her students to see. When she attempted to bring the children into the theater, she was told that she could come in (She was white), however, she couldn’t bring her black students into the theater. After arguing on behalf of the children, the Sister was allowed to take them up to the balcony where they would not be seen.

When I attended an English Teacher’s Convention, my awareness of the plight of Native Americans was heightened when the guest speaker read a lament from Chief Joseph who had promised his father on his deathbed that he would never sell the land in which his father’s bones were buried. The Government came and took the land. Chief Joseph was heartbroken that he was not able to keep the promise to his father. I came away believing that we needed Native lawyers to be able to defend their interests.

Later, I read the story of an educated Native woman who went to a clinic because she was having health issues. She was told that she needed a hysterectomy. She knew that was not her problem, so she had an investigation made which revealed that any woman who went to the clinic was automatically told she needed a hysterectomy. Basically, it was an attempt at genocide. I was convinced that we needed Native health workers.

I realized that a good way to help these oppressed people was to provide them a good education so that they could hold positions to assist their own people. St. Katharine Drexel also believed that a good education would help both groups. Therefore, she established many schools for them. She also founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to staff the missions, schools and provide social services for the people. It has made a difference. However, progress needs to continue.

On the other hand, with the media coverage of the cruel treatment of Latinos, Muslins, and immigrants from many countries, none of us can be ignorant of the situations of the needy, unless we choose to be. The whole situation is actually overwhelming. Also, it is very frustrating because good laws, like common-sense gun control, etc., are being blocked.

However, it is helpful to know that there are still good Samaritans who are volunteering to help situations, like those helping in the search and rescue efforts in the Bahamas. I heard of a man who purchased thousands of dollars of supplies in a Walmart for the Bahamas, but wanted to remain anonymous. We may not be able to contribute in these manners, but we do need to keep our eyes open for those who have needs which we can address.

In Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 25), there is a description of the Last Judgment in which the King says that whenever you refused to help one of these least ones, you refused to help me. He goes on to say that those will be sent off to eternal punishment, but that those who reach out to neighbors in need will enjoy eternal life.

 Reflection Question:   With my unique gifts and resources, whom can I help this week?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Las Tentaciones de Los Ricos

En la "Parábola del hombre rico y Lázaro", Jesús señala la tentación de los favorecidos de centrarse en la autogratificación e ignorar las necesidades de los pobres. Jesús les advierte de las consecuencias.

Si bien no crecí rico, crecí en un vecindario completamente blanco. Mi padre tenía un trabajo seguro como cartero y mi madre era una ama de casa. Nunca conocí a nadie personalmente que tuviera hambre. Además, no había presenciado violencia.

Cuando la televisión mostró los intentos de las personas que intentaban evitar la integración de la Universidad de Mississippi, comencé a comprender la situación de los afroamericanos. Esto sigue siendo un recuerdo imborrable porque fue una revelación para mí. Dios me estaba haciendo consciente de aquellos que estaban siendo oprimidos.

Más tarde, cuando estaba enseñando en Nueva Orleans, Luisiana, en la Universidad Xavier, una institución católica históricamente negra, aprendí aún más. Todas las noches en las noticias, escuchábamos sobre jóvenes negros asesinados. Nada parecía hacerse al respecto.

Una hermana compartió conmigo que las Hermanas habían recibido una llamada desesperada de la madre de uno de los estudiantes de Xavier. Su hijo y sus amigos estaban manejando y tomaron un giro equivocado en un vecindario blanco. La policía los detuvo y los llevó a la estación de policía. El joven llamó a su madre para decirle dónde estaba. Ella estaba aterrorizada. Aunque ella sabía que no habían hecho nada malo, sus nombres se pondrían en un libro, y se los consideraría sospechosos cada vez que hubiera problemas en el futuro. Algunas de las hermanas bajaron a la estación y no se irían hasta que los nombres de los jóvenes fueran sacados del libro. Solo Dios sabe si fueron devueltos cuando se fueron. Las hermanas hicieron lo que pudieron.

Otra hermana en una escuela primaria compartió que había una película valiosa que quería que sus alumnos vieran. Cuando intentó llevar a los niños al teatro, le dijeron que podía entrar (era blanca), sin embargo, no podía traer a sus estudiantes negros al teatro. Después de discutir en nombre de los niños, a la Hermana se le permitió llevarlos al balcón donde no los verían.

Cuando asistí a una convención de maestros de inglés, mi conciencia de la difícil situación de los nativos americanos aumentó cuando el orador invitado leyó un lamento del Jefe Joseph, quien le había prometido a su padre en su lecho de muerte que nunca vendería la tierra en la que estaban enterrados los huesos de su padre. . El gobierno vino y tomó la tierra. El jefe Joseph estaba desconsolado porque no pudo cumplir la promesa a su padre. Salí creyendo que necesitábamos abogados nativos para poder defender sus intereses.

Más tarde, leí la historia de una mujer nativa educada que fue a una clínica porque tenía problemas de salud. Le dijeron que necesitaba una histerectomía. Sabía que ese no era su problema, por lo que hizo una investigación que reveló que a cualquier mujer que fuera a la clínica se le dijo automáticamente que necesitaba una histerectomía. Básicamente, fue un intento de genocidio. Estaba convencido de que necesitábamos trabajadores de salud nativos.

Me di cuenta de que una buena manera de ayudar a estas personas oprimidas era proporcionarles una buena educación para que pudieran ocupar puestos para ayudar a su propia gente. Santa Katharine Drexel también creía que una buena educación ayudaría a ambos grupos. Por lo tanto, ella estableció muchas escuelas para ellos. También fundó las Hermanas del Santísimo Sacramento para el personal de las misiones, las escuelas y proporcionar servicios sociales para la gente. Ha hecho la diferencia. Sin embargo, el progreso debe continuar. 

Por otro lado, con la cobertura mediática del trato cruel a los latinos, musulmanes e inmigrantes de muchos países, ninguno de nosotros puede ignorar las situaciones de los necesitados, a menos que lo decidamos. Toda la situación es realmente abrumadora. Además, es muy frustrante porque se están bloqueando las buenas leyes, como el control de armas con sentido común, etc.

Sin embargo, es útil saber que todavía hay buenos samaritanos que se ofrecen como voluntarios para ayudar en situaciones, como los que ayudan en los esfuerzos de búsqueda y rescate en las Bahamas. Me enteré de un hombre que compró miles de dólares en suministros en un Walmart para las Bahamas, pero quería permanecer en el anonimato. Es posible que no podamos contribuir de esta manera, pero necesitamos mantener nuestros ojos abiertos para aquellos que tienen necesidades que podemos abordar.

En el Evangelio de Mateo (Capítulo 25), hay una descripción del Juicio Final en el que el Rey dice que siempre que se negó a ayudar a uno de estos menos importantes, se negó a ayudarme. Continúa diciendo que aquellos serán enviados al castigo eterno, pero que aquellos que se acerquen a los vecinos necesitados disfrutarán de la vida eterna.

 Pregunta de Reflexíon:   Con mis dones y recursos únicos, ¿a quién puedo ayudar esta semana?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph. D, Historian, Certified Archivist, emerita

I don’t know how I will be able to help anyone this week because I don’t know what this week will bring me. If I am open to the opportunities God sends me, then I will know how to respond. As Mother Katharine pointed out, God gave us three very valuable gifts: Faith, Hope, and Love. If we believe that there is good in each person, then we will see God in that person. Loving God, we will be open to loving the person before us and this love will tell us how to serve that person. I trust that God will send me the grace to be able to respond to the request or plea that God sends me today.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

Regrettably, I see myself in the rich man. It is not that I am living in wealth and luxury, but I have been complacent (and apathetic) more times than I like to admit when it comes to recognizing and responding to the needs of others. I think that the rich man is so comfortable in his surroundings (probably with servants who take care of his every desire) that he doesn’t look beyond his immediate environment. All his needs are being met; there is no reason to go outside. Consequently, he doesn’t know, or maybe he really does not care, that Lazarus lies starving on the other side of the gate.

I live in the city where housing is very close. My daily life is very full, and when I get home at the end of the day I typically don’t go outside; rarely do I check to see what lies on the other side of the gate. Thus, I do not connect with my neighbors often, many of whom are slaves to the same busy routine. I did not know that my neighbor across the street was depressed until the flashy sirens of the police cars and ambulance caught my attention. They were responding to a call that my neighbor was found unresponsive after attempting suicide. I did not know she was suffering. How could I if I never venture outside my comfort zone? What hunger raged in the depth of her being? Dare I ask?

When we risk knowing another, we may very well recognize needs. If we see unmet needs, do we not have a responsibility to take an action – to give something of ourselves? This can cause a fear of sorts – do I have enough time, skill, resources – to share? Depending on how we look at it, looking out for one another can feel burdensome. The flip side is that it can be one of the most rewarding of life experiences in which we make a lasting contribution to an individual, a family, to society. Would we ourselves not appreciate support when we are vulnerable?

In his book, “The Rhythm of Life,” Matthew Kelly writes, “There is no greater satisfaction than laying your head on the pillow at night and knowing you have touched another person’s life, made his burden lighter, taught her some infinite wisdom, made him laugh, allowed her to cry on your shoulder, lent him an understanding ear...made a difference.” In the chapter entitled, “Be The Difference That Makes The Difference,” Kelly suggests that every morning when we wake, ask ourselves the questions, “Whose day can I make today?” and “How can I make that person’s day?” Some suggestions are to write and send an unexpected letter, buy someone chocolate or flowers, bake cookies, tell someone you love that you love them.

“These things may seem simple and external, but they reflect a much deeper quality in a person. Spiritually, we strive to be patient because God is patient, we seek to be kind because God is kind, we try to be humble and gentle because they are the ways of God, we seek to love and be loved because God is love...Yet above everything else, beyond everything else, before everything else ...God is a giver. He always gives. Giving is God’s life and existence. For God, giving is the perpetual motion of His being. It is an act of greatness because it is an act that emerges from the heart and mind of God”. Kelly writes that there is no surer way to share in the life, the power and the infinite joy of God than to give.

Your blog ended with the message from St. Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 25) instructing that those who reach out to neighbors in need will enjoy eternal life. Matthew Kelly reminds us that, “The good we do is never lost; it never dies. In other people, in other places, in other times- the good we do lives on forever.”

Caring and sharing is a choice. Let’s choose to “Be the difference that makes the difference!”