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.

The first reading from Prophet Amos condemns the attitude of the rich who exploits the poor for their own selfish advantage. Prophet Amos warns us never to exploit anybody or take advantage of any person because of the person’s vulnerability.

Today’s Gospel’s passage is one of those passages in the Bible we have heard many times however, at each time we read it afresh, it resonates new insights about God’s mercy and love. God’s compassion is unlimited; He wants to embrace us always with this love.

Today’s first reading from the book of Wisdom explains that the things of the earth, which are within our own grasp, are difficult for us humans to comprehend. How then can we grasp the heavenly realities? Solomon in his numerous quests for answers on existential realities posed one fundamental question, who could know divine counsel?