To Place God Above All of Our Possessions

09-25-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

Listening to the harsh words of Prophet Amos directed against the rich and wealthy in the first reading and the condemnation of the rich man to hell in today’s Gospel one may think that God is against the rich or that the wealthy are cut off from the kingdom of God. But such idea is far from the truth.

After all, we are told in (I Samuel 2:7 “The Lord makes poor and makes rich, he brings low and, he also exalts”), (I Chronicle 29:12 says, “Both riches and honour come from God, and you rule over all.”), (Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possession and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lots and find enjoyment in his toil this is the gift of God.”) Therefore, since both wealth and riches come from God, he is not against riches or those who possess wealth but rather he is against those who have abandoned God because of their wealth, those who exploit others and those who treat others with contempt and indifference, and those who show no care and attention towards the needy and especially of their own community.

It is these evils that Prophet Amos who carried out his prophetic mission around 760bc in the Northern Kingdom of Israel condemns among the people of his time. At that time there was economic prosperity which produced a very wealth class of merchant and rulers who feel much secured in their wealth. As such, their wealth made them complacent, had no place for God in their lives and indifference towards the needy around them. At that time, as their economy grew and prospered there was no thought given to the moral responsibility which each person should have towards their neighbor. It is against this background that Amos tells the wealthy individuals of the society that they will go to hell.

The same message is seen in the Gospel of today. In the parable, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and poor Lazarus. The rich man has no name but feasted and enjoyed his wealth without caring for the poor Lazarus who stands at his door. The rich man was not punished because of his wealth or was he condemned to hell because he was rich. He suffers the pain of hell because he could not see beyond his material wealth and possession. “Jesus is condemning the callousness of those who live lives of self- indulgence while ignoring the needs of the poor, especially the poor of their own community or their own community of faith”. In the end the rich man became a beggar.

On the other hand, the poor Lazarus did not go to heaven because he was poor. It is not his poverty nature that gained him a place among the saints and angles in heaven. It was because he trusted in God. That’s corresponds to the meaning of his name Lazarus “God is my Help.” Despite a life of misfortune and suffering, Lazarus did not lose hope and trust in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.