GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 16TH MARCH 2017
THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 17:5-10
PSALM: Psalm 1:1-4, 6
GOSPEL: Luke 16:19-31
THEME: WEALTH
A poor man goes down on his knees and prays, “Our Father who art in heaven…Give us this day our daily bread…” The daily bread that he looks forward to is often the scraps of a rich person. For example, 20Gh cedis is no money for a rich person but that same amount in the hands of another person is an answered prayer. Therefore, when a wealthy person chooses to hoard the scraps which the poor person looks forward to, it is a grave matter.
A critical look at today’s Gospel text shows that the rich man did nothing wrong to merit damnation; he only failed to do something right to avoid damnation. One verse in the narrative unravels the reason underpinning the unpleasant eternal destiny of the rich man – “And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores” (Lk. 16:20-21). He had the opportunity and the means to help but he refused. That was his mortal sin.
Material prosperity is a blessing from God but it can easily become a snare when greed makes us hoard everything and watch the poor suffer. It is even more of an eyesore when a pastor of the flock of God, who is supposed to champion the cause of the poor, buys fleets of luxurious cars, builds a mansion and wears expensive clothing under the pretext of “Prosperity Gospel”. This is pure mockery of the poor in our churches. Honestly, a person who desires to be rich should not aspire to work fulltime in the vineyard of the Lord. Such a person should simply go into business and follow in the footsteps of Bill Gates. Once we respond to the call to be pastors of God’s flock, we choose to follow in the footsteps of Christ who lived his life for the poor.
Every gift that God gives, be it material or spiritual, shall be accounted for when we stand before the eternal judge. What is the point in piling up wealth, when a little sharing on our part can wipe away the tears of someone? The time has come for us to imbibe the spirituality of the early Christian community, where no one was in need because of the deep sense of sharing ( Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).
Let us give true meaning to almsgiving during this season of Lent. You have what it takes to make the face of someone beam with happiness today by your act of giving. Yes, you the one reading this message. You may consider spending some time in prayer, asking the Lord to show you someone who needs help. The Lord will lead you to bless somebody and you in turn shall be blessed. You shall become “like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream” (Jer. 17:8).
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, deliver me from selfishness and greed. May I look beyond my innumerable needs and see the one need of someone who is crying out to you for help. Make me an instrument of an answered prayer in the life of somebody today. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).