Sharing of life: How did you experience God this past week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: Alertness and vigilance connect the first reading and the Gospel. In the first reading, the author recalls Passover night when the Israelites in Egypt awaited their liberation from slavery. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the importance of an alert spirit. He also speaks about servants awaiting their Master's return and the spirit of fidelity to duty, which should characterize their lives. In the second reading, the author recalls the faith of Abraham and Sarah and sees it as an unwavering confidence in God's promises.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: Wisdom 18:6-9

Chapters 11-19 of the Book of Wisdom reflect on the Exodus story and its meaning for the people of Israel. This reading recalls the night the Israelites were liberated and their enemies punished (a reference to the plagues which forced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free). This event was foreseen by the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). As the children of Israel celebrated their liberation (a reference to the Passover meal), the adversaries of Israel were being punished (a reference to the tenth plague in which the first-born son of each Egyptian family was killed).

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 33

The just one is exhorted to praise God for his creation. The note of elation and expectation connects the psalm with today's first reading.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

This Sunday we listen to the first of four readings from the book of Hebrews. These verses are an excerpt from a larger section, which deals with faith, especially perseverance in faith. The author begins by defining faith as the inner guarantee that God's promises regarding the future will come to pass. Also, faith helps us to believe that what is not visible does exist. Only such faith pleases God. Abraham and Sarah are presented as two wonderful examples of such faith. Both believe in things not seen.

GOSPEL: Luke 12:32-48

The first four verses of this reading come on the heels of the Parable of the Rich Man in which Jesus attacks not wealth, but greed. After assuring his "little flock" that the kingdom is theirs, he urges them to live like citizens of that realm, with simplicity, generosity and trust in God.

Then Jesus goes on to give a teaching on watchfulness and dutifulness. The reward for watchful and dutiful servants will be a place at the heavenly banquet.

In the third part of the Gospel, Jesus responds to Peter's query with a parable, which addresses different kinds of people charged with responsibility. Jesus shares how the managers or elders are expected to carry out their responsibilities while the master is away. The first manager is conscientious in the care of others, while the second not only neglects his duties, but also is abusive and self-indulgent. Finally, a theology of "mitigating circumstances" is introduced. Culpability is not the same for all. The measure of punishment will depend on the servant's awareness. Ignorance tempers divine judgment. The Gospel ends with a saying, "much will be expected of those to whom much has been given."

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most in today's readings?

2. How would you define or describe faith? Who is the most faith-filled person you know? Why?

3. The Gospel among other things speaks about responsible leadership. What are some essential ingredients of responsible leadership? What one thing could/would make you a better leader?

4. "Those to whom much has been given, much will be expected." How does this saying speak to us as a nation, as a parish and personally?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on these readings.

Suggestion: Allow your faith to lead you to reach out to someone in need. Spend sometime reflecting on the extent and quality of your stewardship. To what extent do you tend to see all that you have as gift from God? What might you presently possess that others may need? It might be a skill, some knowledge, encouragement, or material resources.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray for all who are experiencing faith struggles, all that are fearful, all placed in positions of authority. ©

Sharing of life: How was your week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first and third readings speak about the prophet's pain when he and his word is rejected. In the second reading, the author seeks to offer a word of encouragement to people who are tempted to loose faith.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

King Zedekiah is a good example of a leader with no backbone. The opponents of Jeremiah want to kill Jeremiah because they resent the word he speaks. The Zedekiah knows that Jeremiah speaks for God, he, like Pilate, hands Jesus over to the crowd. Later, when an advocate of Jeremiah, Ebed-melech, petitions the king to release Jeremiah, he also agrees. The divisions in Zedekiah kingdom can be found wherever God's truth is being spoken, as we shall see in today's gospel.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 40

This psalm celebrates God as deliverer. He will draw us out of a pit we may find ourselves in.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:1-3

This is a beautiful reading on encouragement to people who may be despondent and tempted to lose faith. As a source of encouragement to the despondent, the author offers the example of a "cloud of witnesses" (the faith-filled people spoken about in chapter 11) and Jesus who endured rejection and the cross. Finally, the readers of this letter are encouraged to free themselves from entanglements of sin, bad habits, self-indulgence, fear and doubt.

GOSPEL: Luke 12:49-53

This Gospel passage consists of two sayings about "fire" and "division". The "fire" Jesus refers to is the fires of the Holy Spirit. The "baptism" Jesus refers to is his suffering and death. After his death, the Pentecostal fire will be ignited which, in turn, will force people to make decisions for or against Jesus. This time of decision is a great divider. In Luke 2:34, Simeon prophesied that Jesus would be the cause of the rise and fall of many.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse spoke to you and why?

2. In the first reading Ebed-melech rescues Jeremiah from a very bad spot. Can you recall a time when a Ebed-melech rescued you from some bad spot in your life?

3. Who have been some of the "cloud of witnesses" in your faith journey - people whose faith inspired you?

4. Have you experienced a time when religion caused division in a family?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestion: Reach out to someone who is in a pit of depression for whatever reason.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray for all those in a bad space right now, sickness, loss, persecution.

Sharing of life: What one thing would you like to change in your life?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first reading and Gospel tell us that all people are invited to be a part of God's Kingdom. The door is open to all. But people must commit to living according to the values of God's Kingdom. Casual acquaintance with God will not be enough. The second reading speaks about the discipline of God.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 66:18-21

In this reading, the prophet shares with his people a universalist image of God, a God who is concerned not only about his chosen people, but all people. Using the imagery of a triumphal procession, the author foretells a time when the pagan nations will be drawn to the glory of God, which radiates from the Temple in Jerusalem. The pagan nations will even participate in the worship of Israel. Still more shocking is the suggestion that some of these pagans will be chosen by God to be priests and Levites. These words of the prophet would have sounded very threatening and revolutionary to the priests who believed only the chosen people were loved by God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 117

The note of universalism ("all the nations") connects this shortest of all the psalms to the first reading.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13

It seems the community to whom this letter to the Hebrews was addressed was undergoing some form of suffering and were at a loss to explain it. Some saw suffering as a punishment for sinful behavior. Others saw suffering as a form of discipline. If patiently worked with, suffering will build character. Quoting the book of Proverbs, it is this latter explanation that is being suggested here. The author compares suffering to a discipline a loving parent offers a child and to the discipline an athlete must undergo if he is to win the race.

Having said the above, we must not think that God sends us bad things (cancer, losses of various kinds) to 'straighten us out'. Closer to the truth, is that bad things happen because we live in an evolving and imperfect world. Because medicine is an evolving science, not all sickness can be healed now. Because we are imperfect people, we do terrible things to each other. While God does not directly causes these bad things, he does want to use them to build character and teach us valuable lessons, which draw us closer to him. Usually, the finest people in our world are those who have grown through suffering, e.g., Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela.

GOSPEL: Luke 13:22-30

This Gospel is an indirect response to the question: How many will be saved? Rather than offering a direct answer, Jesus says, "First, don't assume the road to salvation is easy. Come through the narrow gate. Don't bring a lot of baggage. Second, remember that we may be surprised by those who get in and those who do not." St. Augustine once said, "Many whom the Church has, God does not have. Many whom God has, the Church does not have." While all are invited to salvation not all will respond. And our response needs to be more than a casual interest in Jesus. Name-dropping ("I'm the son of Abraham") will not get us in. Neither will membership in a Church ("we sat at your table"), nor will being from the same town do it ("you preached in our streets"). We may know the teachings of Jesus, but not follow them. If we only have a casual acquaintance with Jesus, he may say to us, "I don't know who you are." Finally, Jesus warns us that the door will not remain open forever. Do not keep putting off a decision to follow Jesus.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most in today's readings?

2. In the second reading, the author says when it is happening, all discipline (bad things) is painful, but later we can rejoice in it (assuming we have grown through it). Can you give an example of this from your life?

3. In the Gospel, Jesus is clearly saying that casual acquaintance with him is not enough. We must be truly committed. In your opinion, what is the difference between "casual acquaintance" and "true commitment?"

4. To what extent is our church open to all? How inclusive or exclusive are we?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestion: Pray hard and work hard with the bad things that cross your path with the view to using such things to learn lessons, build character, and draw closer to God.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray especially for those who are presently experiencing "the discipline of the Lord." ©

Sharing of life question: What are you most and least grateful for this week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first and third readings stress the importance of humility, especially for those who are in high places. The Gospel also challenges us to invite the poor and disenfranchised to our fellowship. The second reading contrasts two covenants, pointing out the joy and blessedness of the new dispensation.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading

FIRST READING: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

The author of this book was writing at a time when the wisdom of Israel's pagan neighbors was the envy of the entire world. Most likely, Ben Sira and his students enjoyed upper class status and as such could easily be impressed by their own self-importance. We should listen to Ben Sira's exhortation on humility against this backdrop. His challenge "to humble yourself the more, the greater you are" and the promised reward, "you will be loved by others and find favor with God" prepare the way for understanding the greater reversal Jesus will enunciate in the Gospel: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The reading ends with a poetic saying about water and almsgiving. Just as water quenches fire, so does almsgiving atone for sins.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 68

Among other things, this psalm speaks of God's love for the poor.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24

This reading contrasts two covenant rituals. The people in the old covenant approached God with fear and trembling. Thanks to Jesus, we the people of the new covenant can approach God with confidence and splendor. The first verses in today's reading refer back to Israel's encounter with God at Mount Sinai. It was an awesome and terrifying event, which emphasized the great distance between God and his people. In contrast, through the covenant inaugurated by Jesus, one is able to draw near to the heavenly Mount Sinai where God dwells. The passage depicts God as surrounded by a myriad of angels, as well as by the assembly of the Church - the first-born "registered" in heaven.

GOSPEL: Luke 14:1, 7-14

The setting for this Gospel is a Sabbath dinner at the home of a leading Pharisee. Sabbath meals were occasions to invite guests. Hence, the presence of Jesus. Jesus used such occasions to do some "kingdom talk." In this case, Jesus contrasts the social behaviors of his day with behavior that should characterize people who belong to the Kingdom of God. Jesus gives two directives, one pertaining to guests and the other for hosts.

As Jesus notices guests "jockeying" for places of honor, he says, "In the Kingdom, he is inaugurating status is granted, not sought after." To his host, Jesus says, "when drawing up a 'guest list', don't just invite people who are 'well-placed,' people with 'good contacts'." Rather, invite the unimportant people in the eyes of society, people who cannot repay you in any way." As people belonging to the Kingdom, we should not just "send over" food to the poor. We should invite the poor to share our table. In God's Kingdom, the host and guest should sit together as equals. In a Christian community, no one is a "project."

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most in today's readings?

2. Can one be humble in a society where there is so much emphasis on self-promotion and 'posturing'?

3. Who are the marginalized people in our church? Poor people, e.g. poor working Mexicans just wouldn't feel comfortable in our middle class. Apart from the language barrier what do we need to do to change this sad situation?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestions: Invite to lunch or spend time with a marginalized person in our parish or wider community. Sit in the back of the church next Sunday and see how that experience is for your.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray for humility and for those who are left on the outside of our church and society.

Sharing of life: How easy or hard is it for you to live 'in the now', to be present to what is going on at this moment?

Facilitator reads focus statement: True wisdom comes from on high and enables a person to be guided by the interests of the soul, rather than those of the body. In the Gospel, wisdom is seen as total commitment of one's being to God, even if it means turning one's back on family and possessions. In the second reading, Paul, writing from prison, urges his Christian friend, Philemon, to receive back his newly baptized slave as a "brother in the Lord."

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading

FIRST READING: Wisdom 9:13-18

This reading begins with the question, "who can know the will or plan of God?" The answer is, of course, no one, unless God chooses to share it. This is the main point in this reading. The author lists some of the reasons why humans have a most difficult time getting to know the plan of God: weakness and uncertainty, but the principal reason is that the soul, with it intellectual power, is burdened by the body and thus rendered incapable of transcending such limitations.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 90

This lament psalm underscores another facet of true wisdom: the recognition of the fragility of life and human mortality.

SECOND READING: Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17

In this reading from the shortest book of the Bible, (25 verses), Paul presents us with a moral dilemma. Paul is writing to his friend, Philemon, about one of his runaway slaves who has now become a baptized Christian. The returning slave has a new status - he is spiritually a free man. In God's eyes, Onesimus is now his master's equal. Paul urges Philemon to treat his slave as a brother in Christ. This presented Philemon with a moral dilemma: if he treats Onesimus as a brother, will not his other slaves run away and become baptized so that they can be treated like Onesimus? If Philemon does not treat Onesimus as a brother, he is denying Onesimus' Christian status.

We may wonder why Paul did not condemn the evil institution of slavery. Neither did Jesus. But both advocated a type of love that should move any disciple like Philemon to treat slaves as equals and to treat them accordingly.

GOSPEL: Luke 14:25-37

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he seems to know that he will be rejected and crucified. His growing number of disciples are unaware of what is ahead for Jesus (and for those who are loyal to him). They do not know yet the cost of discipleship. So, Jesus issues a warning or caution: if you are going to be my disciples, think it through carefully. Think about the price to be paid. The price is that Jesus and his concerns must come before attachments to family and possessions. (To "hate" is a Semitic expression meaning, "to love less".) Jesus is not asking the enthusiastic crowd, or us, to literally hate our family or give away all our possessions. But, in a world where many things demand our loyalties, the claim of Christ and his Gospel must not only be first but must also redefine our relationship with family and possessions. This will, most likely, demand some detaching, some "hating", understood as some "loving less" one's family and possessions. Then two parables are utilized to underscore the above point. Jesus is asking, "Are you sure you want to follow me? Are you willing to pay the price? Do not be like the man who decides to build a house without counting the cost of the materials or the general who decides to go into battle without calculating if he has enough men to win it."

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most and why?

2. In your opinion, what is true wisdom? What can help or hinder you from growing in wisdom?

3. Paul did not advocate nor condemn the evil institution of slavery. How do you feel about the fact that many of the things we buy in stores today were made by slave labor? What can be done about that?

4. Today's gospel contains some of the so-called "hard sayings" of Jesus, the ones that make little or no sense to us. How do you deal with these 'hard sayings'?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one-way you can act on today's readings. Suggestion: Clean out some of the clutter in your life. See what stuff in your home you need to take to your local Thrift Store. Also make a special effort to live in the now, in the present moment. Do not allow past or future concerns to steal the joy of the now. Next week you will be invited to share your efforts to live in the now.

Sharing of life: Did you make any special effort to live 'in the now', in the present? If so, how was that experience for you?

Facilitator reads focus statement: All three readings speak of God's mercy. In the first reading, God shows mercy to the rebellious Israelites in response to Moses' intercession. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that his conversion is a result of God's mercy. In the gospel Jesus presents us with three parables, all of which speak of God's mercy.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading

FIRST READING: EXODUS 32:7-11, 13-14

Our first reading today puts us in touch with the rhythm of sin and mercy, which pervades both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. In this reading, the Israelites are like the Prodigal Son in today's gospel. Both turn their backs on God. Today's reading picks up the story after the "dastardly deed" has been done. The molten calf has been built and the rebellious people led by Moses' brother Aaron have offered holocausts to their god. This incident is a metaphor for Israel's relationship with God. They are a people who constantly disobey and rebel against him.

The author of Exodus portrays God as filled with righteous anger for the rebellious Israelites. He even wants to disown them. In his dialog with Moses, he calls them "your" people. Then Moses the "Great Negotiator" gives God two reasons why he should not destroy the Israelites. First, he reminds God that these are not his (Moses') people. They are God's. So, why would he want to destroy his own people? Then Moses appeals to the promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How could he renege on such promises? God listens to Moses and decides not to punish his people.

Commenting on this reading, Patricia Sanchez writes: When God's overtures of love and repeated invitations to enter into a covenantal relationship are met by human arrogance, God remains, nevertheless, merciful and receptive to humankind. Within this theological framework, every sinner is offered the assurance that when he/she decides to turn his/her life around, a divine Someone will be waiting to welcome him/her home.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 51

This is David's famous prayer of mercy after the prophet Nathan awakened David to his sins of murder and adultery.

SECOND READING: 1 Timothy 1:1-17

This reading fits in perfectly with the theme of mercy found in the first and third readings. Paul tells us that prior to his conversion he was a blasphemer (for rejecting Christ), a persecutor (of Christians) and he was arrogant, (three hefty sins). But God had mercy on him. If God had mercy on Paul, the "worst of sinners," surely he will have mercy on his readers some of whom may consider themselves beyond the pale of God's mercy.

GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-32

Commenting on this gospel, the authors of Foundations in Faith, Year C write:

Setting the context for today's gospel is the complaint by some of the religious leaders that Jesus welcomes sinners and - making the scandal complete - eats with them. The short form contains two parables: the lost sheep and the lost coin. The long form also includes the parable of the prodigal son, which was read on the fourth Sunday of Lent. All three illustrate God's solicitude in searching for sinners, and the shared joy that accompanies their return to safety (their complete reconciliation to God). But the parable of the prodigal son most of all penetrates the leaders' objection, by its sensitive and incisive treatment of the elder brother. Ideally, therefore, the long form of the gospel should be read, for the greater depth the third parable introduces.

The lost sheep and the lost coin are parallel stories (the second unique to Luke): one image of God is male (the shepherd), the other female (the woman whose coin is lost). In both, great care is taken to find what is lost. The tenderness of the shepherd, expressed in the detail of taking the sheep on his shoulders, further indicates the loving nature of the search. Each parable concludes with a joyful communal celebration. The celebration is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the lesson of the parables. The reconciliation of the lost is naturally portrayed not as an exercise of grim duty, but as something that delights the heart of God - and can be expected to delight the friends of God as well. This theme is carried through the parable of the prodigal son as well, which, in rich detail, elaborates all of these features.

Yet this last parable brings a new twist, by probing the reaction of the elder brother. When the elder brother's jealousy keeps him away from the feast, the father likewise gores out to him, and in the ensuing conversation, the depth of the elder son's alienation is revealed. The elder son is alienated from his brother: he calls him not "my brother" but "that son of yours" (a point on which the father gently corrects him); he exaggerates the younger sons' crimes, inventing "loose women" that were never mentioned before; and most poignant of all, he reveals that he is alienated from his father. "All these years I slaved for you," he says. Son though he was, sharing in all that his father has, nevertheless in his heart he felt himself to be a slave. The religious leaders, seeing sinners enter the kingdom ahead of those who have kept the law, are plainly depicted in this character of the elder brother. The father's response is instructive. He is generous with the elder, but will not abandon the younger. All are invited to the feast. Our church, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation continues Christ's ministry of reconciling sinners to God and others.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most? Why?

2. What images of God come through to you as you read the first reading? What can we learn from Moses' interaction with God?

3. In your journey with God and church have you ever felt lost like the lost sheep, the lost coin or lost son? If so, what helped you to be found and welcomed back to God and/or church?

4. Why are some people unable to forgive themselves?

5. In the gospel God is imaged as a shepherd, as a woman and as a father. Which image speaks to you best and why?

RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

Is there someone in your life who needs your mercy? If so, pray for the grace to give them mercy. If there is no one in your life who needs your mercy, pray for all who are struggling to forgive some big hurt.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Especially pray for all who are having a hard time believing in God's Divine Mercy and all who are having a difficult time forgiving themselves.

Sharing of life question: What gives you joy? What steals your joy?

Facilitator reads focus statement: In the first reading, Amos condemns the rich for being more concerned with money than with true worship. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the importance of decisive action in a time of crisis and about using material wealth in a way that will give honor to God. In the second reading, Paul encourages prayers of intercession, especially for leaders.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading

FIRST READING: Amos 8:4-7

Amos, recognized as a prophet of social justice, rails against the rich who make a mockery of the Sabbath by carrying out business practices that exploit the poor and defenseless. The merchants describe their own dishonesty in different ways. "Tipping the scales" was a daily occurrence. The Ephah was a dry measure equal to a bushel; the shekel was a unit of stone weights. In their buying and selling, the merchants adjusted the scales to their advantage. The poor paid more and received less. Yet, these merchants came to worship on the Sabbath even though they daily ripped off the poor. Amos condemned such false religion in the strongest way.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 113

God's care for the needy expressed in these verses connects this psalm to the first reading.

SECOND READING: 11 Timothy 2:1-8

Paul urges prayers for all people. He especially singles out those in leadership positions. He also states that it is God's will that all people be saved.

GOSPEL: Luke 16:1-13

This is probably the most difficult parable in the New Testament to interpret because Jesus appears to be holding up, as a model of behavior, a dishonest manager. The following are two interpretations given to the parable:

First Interpretation: Some commentators tell us that the manager really wasn't dishonest. In those days, the manager was entitled to a commission for caring for his master's land. When each debtor came in he lowered the amount he owed his master. He did this by charging little or no commission. In this way, he lost some commission but he did not cheat his master and he ingratiated himself to the debtors hoping that they will take care of him when he is fired. What a crafty guy! Jesus comments to his disciples: "Note how shrewd this child of the world is. He uses wealth well to ensure his earthly future. You, as children of the kingdom, should use wealth well to ensure your place in the heavenly kingdom. You will do this by generously sharing your wealth."

Second Interpretation: The second interpretation disagrees with the attempt to clean up the manager. If he just took a cut on his commission, he should be called "crafty" and not "devious" (as he is called). This second view believes the manager did cheat his master. In this case, Jesus is not praising the man for dishonesty but for his decisive action in a crisis situation. Jesus notes to his disciples: "You can learn from this child of the world. In times of crisis don't just do nothing. Rather, take decisive action."

One commentator states: "Why should we be offended that Jesus found something to praise in a dishonest guy, for all of us are a mixed bag? Unsavory people do have some good qualities, even if it is hard for us to recognize them. The manager's dishonesty, which Jesus didn't commend, shouldn't discolor everything else about the guy."

What Jesus praised was the manager's decisive action in a time of crisis. Disciples should follow this example by taking decisive action to ensure for themselves a place in God's Kingdom.

The Gospel ends with a series of miscellaneous sayings about money and the right use of it. If a dishonest man can use money, his master's money, to ensure there will be people to welcome him when he is out of a job, how much more should honest people use their money in such a way that they will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God? While we cannot buy our own way into the Kingdom of God, we can say that the right use of money will place us in a favorable light before God.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most? Why?

2. How would the Amos type of person be received in our church or society today? How do you feel about people who are strong advocates of social justice?

3. Should we the wealthiest nation in the world be doing more to help the poor at home or abroad? Does your parish tithe? It not, should it?

4. Our use of the Lord's blessings to us could save us or condemn us. Do you think most people have little or no sense of this? They think their stuff is theirs to do with as they want.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestions: Look for the good in some unsavory character you know. Take time to reflect on how well you are using your blessings to bless others. If the poor and your church family are not included in your Last Will & Testament, consider revising it.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray for government and church leaders. Pray for all who do not know Jesus. Pray that all of us would take seriously Jesus' exhortation to use our material possessions in such a way that God will welcome us into heaven.

Sharing of life: What energizes you? What de-energizes you?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first and third readings are severe warnings about the dangers of riches and insensitivity to the poor. The second reading names the kinds of virtues that will enable us to have true riches.

If you haven't read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading

FIRST READING: Amos 6:1, 4-7

Amos is regarded as the great Prophet of Social Justice at a time in Israel's history when there was a great divide between the rich and poor. This reading is not as it might seem, a condemnation of riches, merry making and feasting, in and of themselves. Rather, Amos is condemning the insensitivity of the rich toward the poor, which will be punished by exile. The "collapse of Joseph" is a reference to the people of the northern kingdom, many of whom traced their ancestors back to Joseph.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 146

This psalm speaks of God's care for the poor, thus connecting it with the first reading and gospel.

SECOND READING: 1 Timothy 6:11-16

This reading could have been better connected to the first and third readings if the four verses preceding it had been included. These read:

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall take nothing out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils and some people, in their desire for it, have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

Given this context, in the words of Patricia Shanchez, Paul's challenge to Timothy is:

"His is to be a life of faith, not finance, and of service and sharing rather than striving for a greater portion of this world's goods. His concerns are to be the long-term concerns of the kingdom rather than the short-term concerns of fleeting wealth and earthly securities.

As his model in the faith, Timothy is offered the figure of the accused Jesus, who before Pilate confessed, "I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice" (John 18:39). Following Jesus' lead, Timothy and those in his charge were to be faithful witnesses to the truth of the good news, to biblical justice and to communal solidarity until the appearance of Jesus at God's chosen time."

GOSPEL LUKE 16:19-31

We learn many lessons from those who go to heaven. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we learn a lesson from one who went to hell.

This parable is addressed to the Pharisees who believe riches were a sign of God's blessing and poverty of his curse. Hence, in the eyes of the Pharisees the rich man was a very blessed man and Lazarus was cursed. Jesus came to teach that riches weren't necessarily a sign of righteousness nor were sickness and poverty necessarily a sign of sin. When both men die and move to the other side, their situations are reversed, the rich man suffers and the poor man is taken to "Abraham's bosom", i.e., heaven.

The rich man's sin is that he never noticed the poor man and so he never reached out to help him. As one commentator put it: "the rich man failed to balance the equation between privilege and responsibility." For Jesus' disciples, he was a negative witness to how one should use this world's goods. The parable clearly demonstrates that ill-used riches in this life will reap torment in the next life.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most? Why?

2. In the first reading, Amos yells: "Woe to the complacent". Who are the complacent today? How do we or might we become spiritually complacent? How can we free ourselves from sinful complacency?

3. It seems that Dives, the rich man, was totally blind to the plight of Lazarus, the poor man. Are not most of us the same when it comes to the homeless and poor in our local town? How is it that we can so often act as if the homeless and 'rag people' didn't exist?

4. In recent weeks, we have had several readings, especially Gospels about the use of material blessings. Why do you think that Jesus spoke so much about this issue?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name on way you can act on today's readings? Suggestions: Take to your local Thrift Store stuff from your hose that you don't need or don't use. Continue to ponder the gravity of today's gospel and its implications for us as a nation, as a church and for us personally.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Especially pray for all the agencies that work to build a better world for the poor.