BEYOND WORDS: Living Practical Christianity

Last weekend's readings warned us against the danger that riches pose to our Christian life. As if that is not enough, this weekend, the same warning reappears with a twofold message: Wealth wrongly acquired exercises a destructive power both within the heart of individuals and within society. Wealth wrongly used has the same effect. It ravages the heart of man and of society like cancer. Christians are to turn their attention to obtaining the precious spiritual wealth which Jesus offers, rather than to acquiring material wealth. Jesus knew the heart of people only too well.

Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus condemns the rich man's indifference and highlights the importance of serving others. The rich man's sin wasn't what he did, but rather doing nothing. As St. John Chrysostom noted, "The rich man was not condemned because he was rich, but because he neglected the poor man." St. Augustine added, "The rich man did not gain his punishment because of what he did, but because of what he failed to do." The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls this the sin of omission.

The worlds of Amos and Jesus are not too different from our own. We have many "Dives" (technical term for the rich man) among us, in the society, and also occupying church pews, yet ignoring the misery around them. There are many Lazarus at our gates, suffering in silence. As the Second Vatican Council reminds us, "Feed the people dying of hunger, because if you do not feed them you are killing them." We can build bridges to God's kingdom through small acts of kindness, such as:

- Visiting the sick or elderly

- Volunteering in your church community or local food bank.

- Donating to organizations that serve the poor

- Listening to someone in need

- Offering a smile or a kind word

Silence and inaction can be destructive if not even more destructive than violence. Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Things go upside down not because of what wicked people did but because of the silence of those who could have stopped it.

The Catholic Church's social teaching and corporal works of mercy encourage us to get involved, especially in serving the poor. The "option for the poor" isn't adversarial, but rather a call to solidarity and community. As Pope St. Paul VI wrote, "You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich." (Populorum Progressio, no. 23).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops further emphasizes, "The needs of the poor take priority over the desires of the rich; the rights of workers over the maximization of profits; the preservation of the environment over uncontrolled industrial expansion" (Economic Justice for All, no. 94).

To live out our faith in practical ways, we must undergo personal conversion and spiritual growth. This involves:

- Reflecting on our values and priorities

- Seeking God's guidance through prayer and Scripture

- Cultivating empathy and compassion for those in need

- Embracing simplicity and generosity

We still have time to redress our steps, notice, act, and reach out. Small acts of kindness can close the gap and lead us to God's kingdom. As St. John reminds us, "He who has the goods of this world and sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 Jn 3:17). Let us live out our faith in practical ways, serving others and building bridges to God's kingdom.