I am embarrassed to admit that I frequently find myself dining and socializing with people who have millions and sometimes billions of dollars. I’ve eaten more caviar, lobster and wagyu steak than most people on the planet. I justify it by saying it’s part of my job. But I have seven pairs of nice jeans and expensive shoes.
So it is rather uncomfortable to hear Our Lord say: “My child, remember that you received what was good in your lifetime, while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented” (Luke 16:25). Fellow rich people (and if you’re American, you’re rich), do we not vehemently though quietly object to this parable’s karma-esque reward system? Why bless the rich man just to curse him later? And curse Lazarus just to bless him later? So Americans go to hell, while Burundians and Afghans go to heaven? What is going on?
One clue is that the condemned rich man doesn’t complain of injustice. Rather, he simply begs to help his brothers to repent. Of what? We don’t know exactly. Perhaps another clue is that the rich man now seems more like the downtrodden Lazarus. He knows what it is to be hungry and thirsty, to be wounded in the gutter; that he deserved that, not fancy meals and clothes. Maybe the rich man finally understands how to receive true blessings, but it is too late for him. But not for me. Not for us. — Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
For the Church, that we may heed the cries of the poor and respond with compassion and charity, let us pray to the Lord.
For the world’s refugees, that they may be kept safe on their journeys and in their new homes, far from everything they have ever known, let us pray to the Lord.
For a bountiful harvest of the fruit of the land this autumn, and for just and generous compensation for all who work to pick, package, and transport the earth’s yield, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who minister to God’s people as priests, that they may be enriched and nourished in their prayer and their work, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
Our Parish Fiesta is next weekend! Our presale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office. Presale tickets will be available until Friday at 4:00pm. On Friday, at 4:30pm, we'll start our Parish Fiesta with the dedication of the Youth Center to our late pastor, Father Greg.
We invite all Parish school alumni to join us on Friday of next week at 5pm to join us on stage to reunite classmates, reconnect with friends, and relive cherished memories from St. Joseph School.
