Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: September 26, 201026th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/September/26thC.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Amos 6:1a, 4-7Ps 146:(1b) 7-101 Timothy 6:11-16Luke 16:19-31http://www.usccb.org/nab/092610.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_09_26.mp3
What was the rich man's sin in next Sunday's Gospel? What tormented him after he died? Being wealthy is not sinful; what tortured his soul was his decision to not share his wealth with Lazarus while he had the opportunity.
Death is not a closing of life; it's the opening up of our souls so we become fully alive in the truth of God's love. Death awakens us to the full reality of who God is and all the gifts he has given us and how well – or how poorly – we've invested those gifts.
Whenever we share with others the gifts that we've received, we're investing in God's kingdom. In God's economy, our investments always pay off very well. We receive more than we give away so that we can share even more!
In contrast, when we protect and keep something for ourselves, we lose it like a flower that's "protected" in a dark box. The flower wilts. It cannot grow in the dark. Everything we try to protect ends up useless and even poisonous: We stagnate spiritually as well as emotionally. The gift rots. Our selfishness destroys our union with God who is the Master of Generosity.
Every day, we're given opportunities to share something – some blessing from God – with others. Perhaps what made the rich man in the parable turn away from Lazarus was his disease. Since Lazarus was covered in sores, we can surmise that he was a leper and highly contagious.
This leads us to the question: Do we share less because we feel disgust toward those who need what we can give? Or maybe fear holds us back. Or resentment or unforgiving anger. To be united to God, we cannot live in this state. We have to let love motivate us. Love has no limits; it's always generous.
In the second reading, we hear: "Compete well for the faith." Against whom are we competing? Ourselves! Are you holier today than you were the last time you had an opportunity to be generous? Are you stagnating and rotting or are you spiritually stronger because you've worked hard at identifying your sins and changing?
Questions for Personal Reflection:Bring to mind someone you find disgusting and unlikable. How generous are you toward him or her? If you've missed an opportunity to share a blessing with this person, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will give you strength, through special grace, to overcome this sin.
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:Give examples of times when people turn away from opportunities to be generous. Explain reasons why this happens. How have you personally been a Lazarus who was denied what you needed because of someone's prejudice? What did you learn from that experience that changed your own attitudes about generosity?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
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