Next Thursday we celebrate the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Raphael is patron of our parish and also of health professionals and travelers, the blind and the sick. “Raphael” means “God heals” in Hebrew. So, we might pray to Raphael for guidance and healing. His statue is in our courtyard and his story is in the Book of Tobit. And God bless our health professionals
We have heard the slogan “carpe diem” or “seize the day.” Seize every opportunity to do good.
Think about it. Today’s Gospel parable describes two contrasting lifestyles. One is the guy who “has everything” and lives splendidly. Outside the gate is a poor man who has nothing. Even in death they probably differ: the rich buried with pomp and circumstance. Poor Lazarus is likely left unburied.
But then there’s a dramatic reversal. Where do we find Lazarus? In the embrace of Abraham, happy! Why is the rich man condemned to the torment of Hades? He ignored the beggar.
The rich man didn’t listen to the prophets. Amos, in the first reading, excoriating the rich and famous who pampered themselves at the expense of others who lacked basic necessities.
The prophet Micah advised, “You have been told what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God.”
And sometimes we don’t listen to St. Paul, telling us to be faithful to our baptismal promises, to live a God-like life to practice virtue so that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ.
The wealthy in the readings we heard today forgot that many people hunger not only for bread, but for justice, for peace, and yes, for God. The word challenges us to care. A blueprint can be found in the seven so-called “corporal works of mercy.” You've heard these:
Feed the hungry. Millions of people, 70 million refugees according to the latest UN statistics, are hungry. Countless children suffer starvation and malnutrition, and thousands die each day.
Jesus commands us to feed the hungry. In doing so, we feed Jesus himself. We might contribute to organizations such as Catholic Relief Services. Or feed intellectually hungry children by mentoring them in reading or writing skills. Or volunteer in our parish religious education program to nurture youngsters in their hunger for God. There are countless opportunities.
Give drink to the thirsty. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of God’s resources. How can islands like Puerto Rico, where many people are without drinkable water, be better prepared to weather storms?
Pope Francis in his letter, “Laudato Si” urges us to care for our common home, this planet of ours. Not polluting, cleaning up, is important. Francis asks us to keep our eyes on all creation. For example, 230 whales have been found stranded on the coast of Tasmania, and most have died.
Clothe the naked. Jesus says we should clothe the naked, i.e., do what we can to create a better life for the poor. What about a “closet cleaning?” Why not donate excess, e.g., to St. Vincent de Paul?
Shelter the homeless. Human beings deserve the dignity and decency of having a place to come home. Yes, systemic solutions, e.g., work incentives, are needed. We can also volunteer to help through St. Vincent de Paul or Habitat for Humanity which create homes for needy families.
Visit the sick. Jesus commands us to visit and comfort people with hope. Yes, illness requires better attention. The sick, especially the terminally ill, need our presence. A short visit can do wonders, allowing them to talk about their fears and to transcend feelings of loneliness, or to bring a favorite treat of ours.
Ransom the captive. The fight for human rights is part of this: including political and religious freedom, economic conditions that foster dignity, and an environment conducive to raising a family. We need to stand up for the right of the unborn to life, and the right of the elderly to die with dignity. We can visit people in our prisons to share faith, to teach, to pray, to give hope. Ultimately, this justice also involves care for people.
Finally, Bury the dead. We Franciscans celebrate every year the Transitus (or passing) of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3. It is a moving celebration about our own pilgrimage from this earthly life through the mystery of death into eternal life. We might reach out to mourners through the grieving process by participating in our parish bereavement ministry.
With lively imagination, we can think of a hundred and one ways to practice the corporal works of mercy in our daily lives. How we live has profound–indeed eternal–consequences. Seize opportunities to do good.
On the day of judgment, our prayer is to hear God say to us: Come, inherit the kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty and you gave me drink; a stranger and you welcomed me; naked and you clothed me; ill and you cared for me. Amen.
