Do Good to Others

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092516.cfm) reminds me that I should not be indifferent towards others, but do good to them instead. 

There is a saying that the “ only way for evil to succeed in this world is for good men to do nothing.” I believe this is true. Evil will only succeed if good people do not do anything about it. Evil work will prosper only if good people stay silent and let evil things happen. God is all powerful, and nothing is above his power, that is why evil will only triumph if people of God remain silent, sit on the sidelines, and let evil things happen.

We should not be passive, instead be active in fighting evil and doing good.

In the gospel we see a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. There was no mention that the rich man was a bad person, or if he got his wealth by doing evil things. However, they say that what got him into hell was his indifference towards Lazarus. 

Dapat lagi tayong may paki alam sa kapakanan ng iba. 

Why was he indifferent? Taking a look at the gospel, we see that the rich man knew Lazarus. He knew his name. And he knew he was a beggar. However, he did not care about Lazarus. Probably he was not explicitly doing bad, but his lack of concern towards others is what got him in trouble. He was too focused on himself, enjoying his wealth, without regard for others who need help as well. Probably the rich man was greedy, not giving the scraps to Lazarus - scraps he did not even need anymore. 

God not only expects use to avoid evil, but we should actively do good as well.

God has blessed us with different things. Most probably, no one will admit that he or she is rich, or have more than enough. We will always find ourselves wanting more, other that those we already have. But taking a closer look at our lives, we are sure to find that we have what we need to survive. Probably not as much as others, or not as much that will enable us to live lavishly, but we have more than what we need. With this, God expects that we also share what we have with others – might be a tiny portion, might not be a lot, but what is important is we have a heart that gives cheerfully. 

May we have genuine concern for others, and have the heart who would share what we have to others may live and feel God in this world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live and learn about you. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I act like the rich man. Sorry for being indifferent to the needs of others. Sorry for focusing only on my own needs and concerns. Lord, I pray that you give me a giving heart. May I develop a heart that would always be sensitive with others, and be ready and willing to help others in whatever way we can. I know that not doing evil is enough – you also want me to actively do good to others as well. I pray that in my own little way, I may be always able to help others and make them feel your love and concern. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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September 25, 2016
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138

Reading 1 Am 6:1a, 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.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Tm 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.

Alleluia Cf. 2 Cor 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 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 bosom of Abraham.
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.’”