“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.” (Luke 16:25)

The major theme for this 26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time year C focuses on the warning of God about the sins of self-indulgence, selfishness and the extravagant use of money without sharing it with the poor and the needy that will make us end up in eternal punishment. In other words, our covenantal relationship with God (e.g. the Ten Commandments and the Commandments of the Lord) encourages us to love God above all and to take good care of one another with dignity, respect, compassion and mercy as beloved sons or daughters of God, brothers or sisters of Christ.

The teachings of Jesus Christ and all messages of the Bible stress the importance of demonstrating our love for God above all by loving and caring for our brothers and sisters in need. If we fail to fulfill this covenantal obligation, we will be excluded from the kingdom of heaven like the rich man in today’s Gospel reading, ended up in hell to suffer the fire of eternal damnation.

By loving God above all and our neighbors as ourselves participating in the works of mercy, we will distance ourselves from self-indulgence (excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims), selfishness (concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself in disregard of others) and arrogance (an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions). God is never self-indulgent, selfish or arrogant. On the contrary, He is always loving, compassionate and merciful. Therefore, Christ Jesus wants us to imitate God and be perfect as God is perfect.   

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to avoid the sins of self-indulgence selfishness and arrogance, but to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves in doing the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we share our blessings of Treasure, Time, Talent with those in need to build up our St. Clement Church?    

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.