Amos 6:1, 4-7 / 1 Tim 6:11-16 / Luke 16:19-31
The five senses that we have help us to relate and interact with the people around us, as well as what is around us.
From what we are able to see, hear, smell, taste and touch, we will react and respond accordingly.
So, when we see something beautiful, we will respond with admiration. When we hear something pleasant and mellow, we will be delighted. When we smell a sweet fragrance, or taste something delicious, or feel something soft and smooth, we will be happy and excited.
Yes, when we see, hear, smell, taste and touch the good things of life, we respond with good and positive emotions.
But life is not always about the good and nice things. When we encounter something that calls for our attention, or something that is disturbing, or something that requires our immediate action, how will we respond, or how will we react?
When we see a person in a desperate need, or come across a sad situation, we will be moved with kindness and compassion.
The human heart can be moved to help those in need and to have compassion for those in despair.
Because the human heart is created by God with love, and created to be loving.
In the gospel parable, we heard of a rich man who cared only for himself and enjoyed life in a selfish manner.
He seems to have no feelings for others, or care about others, even if they are poor and hungry, or sick and in a desperate need.
At his gate was Lazarus, who was obviously poor and hungry, sick and needed help. But the rich man left Lazarus outside, at his gate.
He didn't let Lazarus come in, or let him into his comfort zone.
Although it is just a parable, it reveals a number of divided human realities. So there is the rich and the poor, the powerful and the oppressed, the plenty and the needy, those who are inside and those who are outside.
As human beings, we have hearts of flesh, hearts that have the capacity for kindness and compassion, hearts that can move us into acts of love and to help others.
But our hearts may have been hardened by disappointment and frustrations, by resentment and bitterness, by pain and hurt.
So, we look, but we only see ourselves. We hear, but we listen only to ourselves. We want everything good, but only for ourselves. We look inward and not outwards.
But we are not created to be like that. Whatever we see, hear, smell, taste and touch, are revelations and promptings from God, so that we will open our hearts to others, to love them, to help them and show them kindness and compassion.
So, how does God reveal Himself to us and send signs into our hearts? The following is for our reflection:
A man whispered, “O God, speak to me.” A bird sang, but the man did not hear. So, the man yelled, “O God, speak to me.” And the thunder rolled across the sky, but the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, “God, let me see You.” And a star shined brightly, but the man did not notice. And the man shouted, “O God, show me a miracle.” And a baby was born. But the man did not care.
So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me, O God, and let me know that You are here.” Whereupon God reach down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked away in disappointment.
So, let us not walk away from a blessing just because it didn’t come in a way we expected.
Similarly, let us not walk away, or look away from others, in their need.
May we reach out to love them, to help them, to show them kindness and compassion and understanding.
When we reach out to those in need, we will be able to see that God is also reaching out to us in our time of need.a