Homily 26th Sunday OT
Homily presented by Franklin Fong, OFM
The main focus of this weekend’s lectionary is about how easy it is to be complacent with our lives and take everything for granted ! As we live one moment at a time – take one step at a time - we have to face up to what is the ultimate purpose of our lives. We have to answer some basic questions:
To what will our lives bring us?
Is this all that there is?
When we die, what will we leave behind?
What might we expect in the future?
Our view of the future should make a difference in our present decisions.
In the first reading we hear the prophet Amos criticize those who have no concern for the future nor for the social ills of others. They are complacent people who think everything is OK. They are deaf to the “cries of the poor”. To be in solidarity with those who live at the edges of society is of no concern is not a goal of theirs.
In the psalm we hear of the many different ways that God liberates his people: Setting captives free; sight to the blind; raises those who are humbled; protects the strangers; sustains the orphan and widow and frustrates the plans of the wicked.
In the second reading, St Paul speaks of concern for the future when we will enter the world of God. The concern for the future is seen in men and women of responsibility, of righteousness, devotion to God, faithful to Christ, charitable, patient and gentle. We should all lead a blameless life until the second coming of Christ!
In the Gospel verses we hear of Jesus’ story of a rich man and of a poor man. The different futures that await people whose primary concerns are very different. For the rich man finds himself after death to be in torment and suffering greatly in the “netherworld”. While when Lazarus the poor man dies he goes the side of Abraham.
Those like Lazarus have listened to the word of God through Moses and the prophets, while the rich man represents those who totally self-directed.
They are different because persons have different treasures or primary loves and purposes in their lives.
Ask yourselves, what do we seek above all things?
Do you hear and respond to the cry of the poor? Cry of the earth?
All of the earlier generations of our families came from China. My great grandfather left a fishing village to explore a new way of life in San Francisco. It is so easy to forget how the Chinese immigrant community worked together to support each other through the centuries here in the United States . Yes and even here in San Leandro!
It is so easy for those of us who do not remember our immigrant relatives to not sympathize with the struggles of refugees and immigrants who are fleeing home countries to come to America ! Our entire history of the United States is based on persons fleeing persecution for their spiritual beliefs and seeking a more peaceful way of life! Nothing has changed since the 1600’s! Even this week we have persons fleeing their homelands to find another way of life !
So where your treasure is, there also will your heart be …. Now and in the future!
Take a some time in the coming week
to especially give thanks for the immigrant generation in your family history; and
to ask the Holy Spirit for insight into how your gifts can be shared with the current generations of refugees and immigrants who seek our life in the USA.
Finally, take some time to reflect on what are the treasures in your heart which motivate the goals and major activities in your life in San Leandro.
Remember our eucharist today is a banquet offered to us, rich and poor, by the Lord. The poor are never excluded !
Those who are entitled to receive Eucharist are those who answer the call of God, those who are not complacent, those who don’t take the poor for granted, and those who have a heart for the destitute.
The Eucharist is a sacrament of justice and salvation for the just.
So brothers and sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community,
that is the good news for this 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time!
ALLELUIA ! ALLELUIA !!
Fr. Fong
(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)
常年期二十五主日
鄺神父主日道理中譯本
讀經一: 亞毛斯先知書 6:1, 4-7
讀經二: 第茂德前書6:11-16
路加福音 16: 19-31
本週末讀經的主要焦點是關於我們的生活是多麼容易自滿並認為一切都是理所當然的！但其實除却現在一刻，眼前一步的活下去之外，我們必須回答一些基本問題：
1. 我們的生命會給我們帶來什麼？
2. 這就是全部嗎？
3. 當我們死了，我們會留下什麼？
4. 未來我們會期待什麼？
我們對未來的看法應該對我們目前的決定產生影響。
在第一篇讀經中，我們聽到先知亞毛斯批評那些既不關心未來也不關心他人社會弊病的人。他們是自滿的人，認為一切都好。他們對“窮人的呼喊”充耳不聞。與生活在社會邊緣的人團結一致，這無關緊要，這不是他們的目標。
在聖詠中，我們聽到天主解放他的子民的許多不同方式：釋放俘虜；使盲人開眼能視；扶起卑下的人；保護陌生人；扶持孤兒寡婦，挫敗惡人的計謀。
在第二篇讀經中，聖保祿談及我們應該關注怎樣才可將來進入天主的世界。對未來的關注體現在有責任感、公義、忠於天主、忠於基督、慈善、耐心溫和的男人和女人身上。我們都應該過著無可指責的生活，直到基督再來！
在福音的經文中，我們聽到了耶穌關於一個富人和一個窮人的故事。不同人不同的關注，他們的將來也就大不相同。因為富人發現自己死後在“陰間”中受到極大的折磨和痛苦。而窮人拉匝祿死後卻站在亞巴郎一邊。
像拉匝祿這樣的人通過梅瑟和先知跟從了天主的話，而財主則代表那些完全自我作主的人。
他們是不同的，因他們的生命中追求不同的寶貴事物，至愛，及目的。
捫心自問，我們最重要的追求是什麼？
你聽到並回應窮人的呼聲了嗎？大地的吶喊？
我們家族的前幾代人都來自中國。我的曾祖父離開了一個漁村，去舊金山探索一種新的生活方式。我們很容易忘記中國移民社區在美國幾個世紀以來是如何一起工作互相支持的。是的，甚至在聖利安達！
對於我們這些不記得我們的移民親屬的人來說，很容易不同情逃離祖國來到美國的難民和移民的鬥爭！我們整個美國的歷史都是建立在人們為了他們的精神信仰而逃離迫害並尋求更和平的生活方式的基礎上的！自 1600 年代以來，一切都沒有改變！即使在本週，我們也有人逃離家園尋找另一種生活方式！
所以你的寶藏在哪裡，你的心也在哪裡……現在和將來！
在接下來的一周花一些時間：
1) 特別感謝您家族歷史上的移民一代；和
2) 祈求聖神洞察你的恩賜如何與當代尋求美國生活的難民和移民分享。
3) 最後，花點時間思考一下你心中的寶藏是什麼，它們會激發你在聖利安達的生活目標和主要活動。
請記住，我們今天的聖體聖事是主為我們（無論貧富）所設的筵席。窮人永遠不會被排除在外！有資格領受聖體的人是響應天主呼召的人，不自滿的人，正視窮人，以及對窮人有愛心的人。
聖體聖事是正義和救贖義人的聖事。
所以華人天主教會的弟兄姊妹們，這就是常年期26 主日的好消息！
亞肋路亞！亞肋路亞！！
