Twenty-sixth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
A Homily - Cycle C -
2012-2013
by Rev. Luke Dundon
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First Reading - Amos 6:1a, 4-7
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Second Reading - 1 Timothy 6:11-16
Gospel - Luke 16:19-31
Written to explain that
Christ came to save everyone.
Jesus
said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and
fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a
poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill
of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come
and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels
to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from
the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far
off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity
on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My
child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while
Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas
you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is
established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side
to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn
them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied,
'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen them.' He said,
'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will
repent.' 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.'"
Why do people tell stories? I think one reason is, because they’re worth
telling!
Such
as the significance of today, September 29th, National Coffee Day.
Enough said. But no, I hear people say, we want to hear more! Understandable.
We’re talking about COFFEE here! So there’s a story about it, maybe even a
legend. In the 9th Century, a shepherd in Ethiopia noticed that his
animals we’re acting a little hyper as they ate from the berries of a certain
bush or tree. He was curious why they’d act that way, so he tired the berries
himself . . . and soon he was skipping along as well! He ran (and I mean RAN)
to the nearest monastery, filled with caffeine, with the great news of this
discovery, and told the monk about it. The monk was quite suspicious of the
“magically powered bean,” so he threw the berries into the fire, where they
roasted and let forth an unexpected aroma . . . so the monks quickly scooped up
the roasted beans, ground them up and dissolved them in hot water, yielding the
world’s first cup of coffee. And the rest is history.
How
about another story. Forty-nine years ago, in early March 1964, a group of
parishioners of the parish of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church got
together and decided that they should plan a parish Bazaar in mid-June. Crafts
and wares would come out for sale as the fairly new parish community would
gather together for food, music and fun. From the very beginning, the bazaar
would emphasize and strengthen the communal identity of this parish. In 1970
the bazaar changed from being a summer event to a Christmas event, so quilted
blankets and hand-stitched winter underwear would make an appearance. A few
years later the time for the holiday bazaar changed from December to November,
and eventually the bazaar transitioned to September. The Christmas Bazaar, now
bigger than ever before thus became the Fall Festival. And now, that festival
draws thousands of people from all over the states of Virginia and Maryland.
It’s almost become a legend in its own right.
Now,
49 years later, we see signs all over the place, and I means signs all over
Falls Church, Virginia, advertising our PARISH Festival, for we are so proud to
share the GREATEST story that this parish has ever heard. It’s a story that
united this community in the first place in 1962. It’s a story that is more
fascinating than any coffee bean, it’s a story that started forming communities
LONG before St. Philip’s even existed, it’s the story of an angel that appeared
to a lowly handmaid from Nazareth.
Besides
being a day for coffee drinkers, September 29th is also a day when we
remember the angels. So this angel appeared and told Mary that she would be the
mother of the Son of God. Her Son would offer his ministry, his teaching, and
his life for the salvation of every man and woman. This is the story that gives
hope to those who suffer, this is the story that reminds the world that the
lowliest and most forgotten, like the poor man Lazarus, are loved by God
Himself. This is the story that continues to be handed down from generation to
generation, as guardian angels continue to remind every person that God himself
has died for them. The Church teaches that every person has been assigned a
guardian angel who will be with him or her for LIFE, to light and guard, to rule
and guide. Every single person, whether they believe in God or not, has been
assigned an angelic spirit to show them the way to our family in Heaven. THAT
is a community that will last, long after St. Philips becomes a beloved memory.
Our angels, here with us at EVERY moment of our lives here on earth, continue to
remind us of this most AMAZING story ever, a story that involves a manger, a
cross, an empty tomb, and a message for every human being - - God has an
immense, infinite love for them, for us, no matter what we have done, no matter
where we have come from, no matter what we are DOING or what we are SAYING or
what we are even THINKING.
Every
person deserves to hear this story. We are asked by our divine lover, to share
this story with others. We may not be confident about how to do this. On
Saturday the 26th of next month, we’ll have a workshop right here, to
learn how. Please look at the insert in your bulletin today, and sign up to
come. For the greatest story ever told, is a story worthy telling, over and
over, till the whole world is caught up in the God who is passionately in love
with them, who continues to remind everyone, both at the parish festival and
every day through his angels, He continues to remind us . . . YOU ARE NEVER . .
. ALONE.
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