Sunday Gospel Warm-up

Sept. 23, Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus at Our Doorstep

There is the saying that prophets bring comfort to the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The prophet Amos does exactly that in the first reading and Jesus resonates that message in the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Our natural human inclination is to seek out comfort and security. The last thing any of us want is to end up like poor Lazarus; hungry, sick, and living on the street. But if our need for security and comfort makes us blind to others like the rich man is to Lazarus, our souls are in trouble. The poor at our doorsteps (literally in the case of All Saints’) are really a blessing in that their presence calls us to compassion and love. The question is, will we respond to them or walk by.