September 28, 2025 - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of the rich man who dressed in fine clothes and lived in luxury, while at his very gate lay poor Lazarus, hungry and covered with sores. After death, their fortunes are reversed: Lazarus is comforted in heaven, while the rich man suffers. This parable is not just about wealth, but about blindness of heart. The rich man never noticed Lazarus. His sin was not that he was wealthy, but that he ignored the suffering of someone right in front of him. He stepped over Lazarus daily without seeing him as a brother in need. His refusal to show mercy in life left him unable to receive mercy in death. Jesus reminds us that our faith is not only about what we believe, but how we live it out in love and mercy.
In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts Timothy to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness” (1 Tim 6:11). True discipleship is not measured by possessions or status, but by the virtues that shape us in Christ. We are called to persevere in faith and keep our eyes fixed on eternal life. The Scriptures and teachings of the Church already guide us toward compassion, generosity, and justice. Like the rich man’s brothers, we don’t need more signs—we need open eyes and willing hearts. Each Lazarus we encounter—whether it be the poor, the lonely, the sick, or the overlooked—is Christ himself in disguise.
This week, let us ask for the grace to truly see. To notice the “Lazarus” at our gate. To move from comfort toward compassion, and from indifference toward love. Who is the “Lazarus” in my life? How can I respond with faith, love, and gentleness? For in the end, it is not what we keep, but what we give, that leads us to eternal life. Together, these readings urge us to live with open eyes and generous hearts. The poor and vulnerable are not interruptions to our comfort—they are Christ at our gate. To ignore them is to risk eternal separation; to serve them is to embrace the life God promises.
Fr. Stan
