The Evils of Complacency

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 9/30/04)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sept. 26 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

Every time I hear the parable or story which Jesus just told us in today’s Gospel account, I recall a reflection I read some years ago. "Dives — the rich man — went to that place of torment we call hell because he passed by Lazarus every day and he never really saw him. He went to hell because he allowed his brother to become invisible."

The rich man never did anything to hurt the poor man named Lazarus; he did not kick him or ridicule him or throw him off the property. The rich man, who used to dress in purple garments and fine linen, ended up in unending misery because he did nothing. He had become so complacent, so self-satisfied, that he no longer saw the needs of those around him.

The rich man in the parable is the perfect reflection of the people whom the prophet Amos describes in today’s first reading: "Lying on beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, … they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph." They too were so complacent that they no longer saw those in need; they allowed the needy and the poor to become invisible.

Jesus not only points out in this parable the tragic end which comes to those who are complacent and indifferent to those in need, but also how we can avoid such an end and instead be the people He calls us to be: persons reflecting His loving care and mercy. How? By being attentive to the Word He proclaims in the Scriptures. "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them." And we also recall what God has said about His only-begotten Son, the very Jesus Who told us this parable: "This is my Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him" (Lk 9:35). Yes, if we are attentive to the Word God speaks to us in and through the Church and fix our eyes on Jesus, we shall not become complacent or indifferent. Rather, we shall see others as God wishes us to see them, love them as God wishes us to love them, serve them as God wishes us to serve them. People in need will not be invisible to us, but will be so visible and clear that, transformed by the Lord’s grace, we will willingly and eagerly allow the Lord to use us as instruments of His loving care and mercy towards them.

Now, there are many applications of this parable for our lives. The first and primary one is connected with how we relate to the poor and the needy among us, around us and beyond us. Our Holy Father repeatedly calls to our attention "the preferential option for the poor." In his Apostolic Letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte," which provides a "roadmap" for evangelizing in this new millennium, he writes: "If we have truly started out anew from the contemplation of Christ, we must learn to see him especially in the faces of those with whom he himself wishes to be identified … " (no 49). The Pope then refers to Christ’s words in the 25th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus reminds us that whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him: "I was hungry and you gave me food … " (Mt 25:35). Then, our Holy Father continues: " … as the unequivocal words of the Gospel remind us, there is a special presence of Christ in the poor, and this requires the church to make a preferential option for them" (no 49).

We must, therefore, become more sensitive and attentive to those who are truly in need, so that we do not allow them to become invisible to us. This means sharing our resources with them, not only by giving monetary assistance — and this is necessary and needed, but also by becoming involved ourselves, sharing our time and our talents. Again, our Holy Father describes this outreach to the poor so beautifully. "Now is the time for a new ‘creativity’ in charity, not only by ensuring that help is effective but also by ‘getting close’ to those who suffer, so that the hand that helps is seen not as a humiliating handout but as a sharing between brothers and sisters. We must, therefore, ensure that in every Christian community the poor feel at home. Would not this approach be the greatest and most effective presentation of the good news of the Kingdom?" (no 50).

It is clear then that we are called as disciples to see our needy brothers and sisters and reach out to them in ways that uphold their dignity and bring them assistance and support.

To do this requires a conversion in our attitudes. That is why we need to begin any outreach to the poor before the Lord, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. He remains among us, in each tabernacle, so that we might find in His Eucharistic Presence deeper insights, persevering zeal and consoling strength as we go forth to bring God’s love and care to the poorest and most needy among us, beginning with our neighborhood and parish. Christ came to relieve the deep hunger of God’s People, yes, above all, their spiritual hunger, but He did not ignore either their physical hunger, as the Gospels make clear.

Let us ask the Lord today, especially as we speak with Him after receiving Him in holy Communion, for the grace to see those in need and to find ways to reach out and support them. If we do, we shall be listening attentively to His Word and shall become the opposite of the rich man. Those in need will not become invisible to us and, transformed by Christ, we shall bring them His love, the source of hope and life — for them and for us. Amen.

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