26th Sunday C 2007.
Call to mind: times when we have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the cry of those in need.

The first reading from the Prophesy of Amos is a judgement of God against the well off and self-indulgent people in Israel.
Against those who have plenty and busy themselves enjoying all they have without much or any thought for the plight of the poor.
The description is beautifully illustrative of a self-indulgent life style.

The Gospel story of the rich man and the poor Lazarus is even more illustrative.
The poor man is lying at the gate of the rich man hoping for scraps from his table.
The rich man feels he has no duty towards him.
As always, Jesus is asking us to hold up a mirror and see if recognise ourselves in any of the characters of the parable.
I think that as a nation we no choice but to see ourselves as the rich man.
As individuals, we must look in the mirror and decide for ourselves.

St. Paul in the letter to Timothy advices his co-worker to aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle, as is befitting a man dedicated to God.
You would rightly expect all that of me and any priest or bishop.
Married people are dedicated to each other and their children but as a family, they can be dedicated to God and follow St. Paul’s advice.