Seeing is not enough!
Have you read the scriptures for this weekend, the 26th Sunday in Ordinary time? They are quite stark and unequivocal. There is no softening of the message. Being a follower of Christ is not to be taken lightly with much expected.
The first reading from Amos is indisputable. ‘Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion …’. Amos confronts complacency, indulgence, and false security, giving the Israelites warning that they their good life is about to come to an end.
In a different tone but no less serious the 2nd reading from St Paul to Timothy offers a call to personal holiness and discipline. If you are ‘dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious …’ The promise is that the reward for taking on this challenge will be the ‘eternal life to which you were called …’’ This is a call to act, not to just sit and do nothing. To talk about Christ openly, to be compassionate, to be loving and caring of His people and His world. ‘Doing all that you have been told’.
And if we are in any doubt about God’s message, Luke’s Gospel with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is forthright. Lazarus, a man rejected by society, who suffered ill health and was ignored in life is raised into the comfort of heaven. Meanwhile the wealthy man who ignored those in need and thought only of his own needs and comfort finds himself suffering for eternity.
We are challenged to look at ourselves. How do I measure up? Are my eyes open to the needs and suffering of those around me or do I put up blinkers to avoid seeing what I don’t want to know about? Seeing is not enough but it should lead to action. This is not just about how we use our monetary wealth but how we use our talents and our time. There is so much that needs to be done in our community and the opportunities to make a difference are many.
God Bless, Jane
