Sunday's readings were particularly striking this past Sunday. I think "striking" is the word. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
and the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. Fr. Qui-Thac focused on why the rich man was in hell; afterall, he didn't DO anything. And, of course, that was the problem.
The verse that struck me (and Larry O'Conner) was the last line of the Gospel, "Then Abraham said, 'If they will not
listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if
someone should rise from the dead.'"
It follows then to ask ourselves "Are we listening to Amos? REALLY listening?"
Here's the Peterson translation of those verses:
Woe to you who think you live on easy street in Zion,
Who think Mount Samaria is the good life.
You assume you’re oat the top of the heap,
Voted the number one best place to live.
Well, wake up and look around. Get off your pedestal.
Woe to those who live in luxury
And expect everyone else to serve them!
Woe to those who live only for today,
Indifferent to the fate of others!
Woe to the playboys, the playgirls,
Who think life is a party held just for them!
Woe to those addicted to feeling good – life without pain!
Those obsessed with looking good – life without wrinkles!
The could not care less
About their country going to ruin.
But here’s what’s really coming:
A forced march into exile.
They’ll leave the country whining,
A rag-tag bunch of good-for-nothings.
