26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 16:19-31

Bridging The Gap

Caesarea Philippi

If you have ever been to London and had the chance to use the “London Underground” transportation system, then you have heard this simple phrase repeated over and over while waiting for the subway train.  Mind The Gap!  It’s a reminder that there is a bit of a dangerous gap between the platform and the train car itself.  And you have to be careful and alert when boarding the train!

We all face gaps in our lives, situations and relationships where there seems to be a great chasm between us and something/someone else.  Maybe it’s a family member who has shut themselves off from contact or someone in desperate need of help.  Maybe it’s that guy standing at the stoplight holding a sign – HELP!  And maybe you’re the one on the other side, hoping for someone, anyone, to bridge that gap!  It leaves us with a choice.  Do we make the effort to bridge that gap, to take the chance to step over and offer our love and help?  Or do we choose to do nothing and keep that separation in our lives?

The Rich Man in today’s Gospel just doesn’t get it!  It’s not that Jesus is condemning everyone who is rich. I think it’s more about what are you doing with what you have!  That rich man walks by Lazarus every day but he doesn’t really see him, doesn’t really respond to him in any neighborly way.  He had a chance every single day to help him but, no, he ignored him and treated him with contempt.  He put his faith and his heart into things of this world – money, possessions, fine clothes – and not on God.

God has granted each and every one of us gifts and talents.  Maybe for some of us, that includes a comfortable lifestyle.  In any case, God challenges us to make good use of what He has given us.  He calls us to really see those around us who are in need and to respond!  He calls us to be thankful for what we have and to truly see those in front of us who could benefit from our gifts and talents, to make “good use” of what we have!

Too often we look at the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus in today’s Gospel as a simple commentary on the gap between the rich and the poor.  Perhaps it’s a continuation of the ‘easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.’  But maybe Jesus is reaching out to a much larger audience.  Maybe it’s more than just a condemnation of the rich.  Maybe it’s a reminder that we all have ‘gaps’ in our lives.  Every day we have a choice of bridging a gap, of crossing that chasm that separates us from a loved one or from someone in need.  The prophet Amos, in the first reading, warns about the perils of being complacent.  That is the real sin of the rich man!  Not that he did something wrong, but that he did nothing at all!

Great Spirit, help me to be aware of Your presence, especially in the lives of those around me!

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2022 at 9:37 AM

    Deacon Frere What a inspireing Homily today thank you I see similar situations every day like the ones you spoke about My self I was a little envious of my younger sister with a big house money that go and come as she pleases but if I look at my life I have a smaller house not much money by h husband and am happy Sally is lonely even with friends and children in further Maryland she may have better health but I thank God every day for what I have two of my children are close by and two grands My chocolate Chessie just died he was 13 he was my big buddy up here on the hill in the woods But God is good and maybe in the Soring I’ll be able to get another dog So all in All In I feel blessed

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2022 at 9:41 AM

    Deacon Frere please pray for Susan my sister going in to the Hospitol center at 7 am tomorrow morning for Heart surgery Her time to be there was changed to 7 am from 11 am she can’t find any one to take her please keep her in prayer 🙏 God bless you Robyn middle sister

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