Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
In an address to the United Nations on September 25, 2020, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, wrote, “We are faced, then, with a choice between two possible paths. One path leads to the consolidation of multilateralism as the expression of a renewed sense of global co-responsibility, a solidarity grounded in justice and the attainment of peace and unity within the human family, which is God’s plan for our world. The other path emphasizes self-sufficiency, nationalism, protectionism, individualism and isolation; it excludes the poor, the vulnerable and those dwelling on the peripheries of life. That path would certainly be detrimental to the whole community, causing self-inflicted wounds on everyone. It must not prevail.”
Today’s parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man invites us to consider these words of Pope Francis. How do we reconcile the fact that while some people live in extravagance, others are struggling to eat? Throughout the Gospels, Jesus does not necessarily condemn people who are wealthy simply for having wealth. Rather, as we have seen in the readings for the past several Sundays, Jesus denounces people who have an excess of resources that they are unwilling to share with others. I believe it is important to remember that wealth is not only counted in dollars and cents. We are encouraged to share our time, our energy, our care, and our respect as well as our material wealth.
The Rich Man missed the opportunity to engage in a relationship with Lazarus, ultimately to his detriment and regret. Within our parish community we have two ministries that provide us with a wonderful example and an opportunity to engage in sharing of ourselves with those less fortunate. Both our Falge Farmworker Program and our parish participation in I- Help allow us to share not only our financial wealth, but also those more intangible but equally important resources. All our volunteers in these exceptional ministries are an inspiration to me and our entire parish family.
I wish you and your loved ones blessings of good health and great hope. Please continue to pray for peace,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission Weekly Bulletin.