Reflections on the feast of St Michael the Archangel

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year C   

29 September 2013

St. Michael Archangel,
St. Gabriel Archangel,
St. Raphael Archangel

Feast












First Scripture reading:
Amos 6:1.4-7.

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Ps 146(145):7.8.9.10.

The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
Secures justice for the oppressed,
Gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow He sustains,
but the way of the wicked He thwarts.

The LORD shall reign forever;
Your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

Second Reading: 1 Tim 6:11-16.

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Luke 16:19-31.
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

 Commentary of the day :

If I was in the parish today, the congregation would be getting an earful about the amazing miracle of birth that’s changed my world this week on September 24^th and about how impressed I was with my gorgeous wife’s courage during the procedure.

But if you want to read about it you can see my other blogged article at:

http://kevinmatthewlee.blogspot.com/2013/09/everyone-loves-baby-but-mine-is-best.html

Today is the birthday of my youngest sister Monica who is fifteen years younger than me so growing up I took special care of her. She can recall all the games I played with her and Mary (our next sister up from Monica), the adventures I took them on as well as listening to her difficulties. So on the feast of St Michael and the other archangels I always remember her as well as the police whose feast day it is too (under the patronage of St Michael).

The Gospel message which I want to share with you today is just one point. The rich man in the parable Jesus told was sent to hell not because he didn’t go to Africa to feed the starving people, or because he did anything wrong. He was sent to hell because he ignored the plight of the poor man outside his gate. He didn’t hurt him or even tell his dogs to lick Lazarus’ sores. He just did nothing. 

In the mind of Jesus, apathy is a sin of omission. It’s a crime worthy of eternal damnation. So be careful Tony Abbott what you DON’T DO for those people seeking genuine asylum from unjust regimes. They are outside your gate calling for help and you turn them away…

Criminal neglect.

Constitution on the Church in the modern world « Gaudium et Spes »  

"Lying at his door was a poor man"

God intended the earth with everything contained in it for the use of all human beings and peoples. Thus, under the leadership of justice and in the company of charity, created goods should be in abundance for all in like manner. Whatever the forms of property may be, as adapted to the legitimate institutions of peoples, according to diverse and changeable circumstances, attention must always be paid to this universal destination of earthly goods. In using them, therefore, man should regard the external things that he legitimately possesses not only as his own but also as common in the sense that they should be able to benefit not only him but also others.


On the other hand, the right of having a share of earthly goods sufficient for oneself and one's family belongs to everyone. The Fathers and Doctors of the Church held this opinion, teaching that men are obliged to come to the relief of the poor and to do so not merely out of their superfluous goods. If one is in extreme necessity, he has the right to procure for himself what he needs out of the riches of others. (Here the ancient principle applies...: “In a case of extreme necessity everything is held in common and must be put to common use.” Clearly, for a precise application of this principle, all the necessary moral conditions must be present.) Since there are so many people prostrate with hunger in the world, this sacred council urges all, both individuals and governments, to remember the aphorism of the Fathers, "Feed the man dying of hunger, because if you have not fed him, you have killed him," and really to share and employ their earthly goods, according to the ability of each, especially by supporting individuals or peoples with the aid by which they may be able to help and develop themselves.