26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners,
 
We mark the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day. The Scripture texts for this Sunday once again bring our attention to the poor. This is a common theme for the prophets as well as the Evangelist Luke. In today’s Gospel the Lord Jesus tells the parable of the “ Rich Man and Poor Lazarus.” The nameless rich man is indifferent to the plight of his neighbor. So wrapped up in himself, he does not see the suffering of the one who is just outside his door and is in need of his help. Although the rich man does not see, the Lord sees all and turns the tables so that in eternity Lazarus suffers no more and the rich man is now in torment.
 
This Sunday’s Scriptures have a lot to tell us. We are reminded to be on guard for complacency and indifference. These will lead us to destruction after a life of selfishness. God is calling us to become mindful of the poor and responsive to their needs. Failure to help them will bring us to the place of torment.
 
Two weeks from today I and my two priests, along with all the priests of the diocese, will deliver the homily in conjunction with THE BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL. The APPEAL is a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate our faith by supporting the work of Catholic Charities which so many people look to for help. The primary beneficiaries of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal are the agencies which assist the poor, the disabled, the elderly and the suffering. That is why we are encouraged to participate in the appeal and not to be indifferent. Every parishioner can give something according to their means, no one should exempt themselves as the rich man did in the parable the Lord Jesus told in today’s Gospel.
 
In the second lection for this Sunday we read a portion of the First Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy in which he writes,” Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called…” The newly canonized Saint Teresa of Kolkata is among the Saints who were attentive to the plight of the suffering and worked to relieve their distress. By doing so they are now glorified in eternal life because in Jesus’ Name they engaged themselves in service to the poor and lowly.
 
We are encouraged to compete well and to guard against indifference, the great sin which brings destruction and chaos into the world. The BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL is the opportunity you have to join your brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Paterson to support the work of the Catholic Church, a work which was begun by the Apostles and supported by the first Christians as documented in “ Acts of the Apostles”.
 
May God bless you!
Father Zig