With Opened Bible

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead."

Why is it so difficult for man to listen to reason? Why does the human heart tend to be more toward evil than good? The first reading and the Gospel for this Sunday seek to answer these questions. First, we have the prophet Amos, prophet of divine justice, decrying the sins of his people and especially their quest for luxury and forgetfulness of God: "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!" (Amos 6) This sad social and religious vision was a virus gnawing from within the very foundation of what constitutes Israel: love and faith in God. The uncontrolled pursuit of luxury leads to forgetfulness of God. Consequently, the punishment of exile would remind them of their sin.

In the parable of poor Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus teaches the same lesson. The rich man is not condemned because of his wealth or luxury, but because of his lack of charity and compassion. His inaction towards the poor man at his door is a stark reminder of the importance of compassion and charity in our lives. For having neglected love and compassion for the sake of his own pleasure, the rich man lost the chance to enjoy a blissful eternity. There is always a consequence for the evil we do. But how can we avoid this painful condition? How can we live here below to better prepare for our spiritual future, heaven? Jesus answers us without hesitation: "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them." Why listen to Moses and the prophets? Precisely because they proclaimed and taught the word of wisdom to help us live according to God's will. And this will is none other than to be compassionate and caring for one another. "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:34-36.40) Love of neighbor is the key that opens the doors of Paradise.