26th Sunday 2016

Amos 6:1A, 4-7
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Luke 16:19-31

In these verses, Amos continues his theme of social justice, but focuses on the delusion of power. After the woe, Amos speaks of a marzeach feast, which involved excessive drinking and consumption, perhaps in honor of those fallen in military battles. The last of these verses states that the Lord rejects this “state of affairs and will tear down the cities (1).”Jesus’ parable also lays out the consequences of abusing of wealth.

Like Amos, Jesus also mentions the importance of using wealth in order to follow God’s law (1). The rich man perpetrated no crime against Lazarus, other than not noticing his suffering or trying to help in any way. “It was not wealth that kept him from Abraham’s bosom, but his irresponsible stewardship (4).” He seems to have learned from his apathy, because he asks Lazarus to warn the brothers.

Paul calls Timothy a ‘man of God,’ a title used for Moses, Eli, and Samuel. It is a title which is a call and invitation to be a religious leader. Paul lists the virtues needed to be a man of God, to address the wrongs of society such as abuse of wealth, gluttony and apathy. Although he takes some liberty, Barclay translates the words as follows: (2)

Righteousness, dikaiosune, giving both human and God their due;
Godliness, eusebeia, reverance, awareness of living life in the Lord”s presence;
Faith, pistis, fidelity to the Lord;
Love, agape, love of the Lord for men;
Patience, hupomone, victorious endurance in the face of adversity and suffering;
Gentleness, paupatheia, not anger for wrongs done to the self, but to others.

These explanations offer us ideas as to how to live according to both the Old and New Testament laws which exhort us to notice, respect and help our fellow man, observing their plights and addressing their sufferings.

Journal Questions:

Recall on an occasion when you participated in “excessive consumption.” How did you feel before, during and afterwards? Using sensory details to indicate the shifts in your attitude before, during and after the event.
Reflect on each Barclay’s definitions of the various virtues. Contrast your former understanding to your new insights.

References:
1- New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary. Abingdon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010.
2- The Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon, Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1975.
3- Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1971.
4- The Collegeville Bible Commentary, Luke. The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota, 1992.

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