09/29/13 - 26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Luke 16:19-31) Today’s gospel is a story about lack of compassion and what this can lead to. Hardness of heart, maybe out of fear or religiosity, deprives others of the right to food. Dogs, who in Jesus’ time, were the most unclean of animals, showed more compassion to the poor man, by soothing his wounds, licking his sores. Compassion is the way of Jesus, the way of suffering actively with others and trying to do something for them when we can. If we can wince at the pain of hunger, homelessness, isolation and loneliness, we may do something about them. If the hardships of others really touch us so that we can feel the pain of another, then our feelings to want to help will come into real activity. We know of the huge inequality of the world. We think of the millions in slave labour, eking out a living to make clothes for the western world. We can be as near and as distant from them as from any of the images on our TV screen. The hearts of many plead for compassion just as the heart of the poor man yearned for the human touch of food; and the heart of the rich man yearned for mercy in the torment of Hades. Watching Jesus in the gospel is a way of growing in compassion. He seems to go out naturally to people, and is in our heart knocking to get out, so that we can go with him to those in need. We have the gift of Jesus, not for ourselves, but for others. ‘Who needs my help today?’ was a daily question of St Ignatius Loyola. Isn’t it good to ask that each day and allow the Lord lead us to where we may help another in need? Lord Jesus may your kingdom come among the poorest of people and places in the world. Donal Neary SJ (gardinerstparish.wordpress/)
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 16:05:47 +0000
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