The Danger of Unconcern: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni – Twenty-Six Sunday In Ordinary Time –
Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: What am I concerned with? Warnings against Wealth! The danger of unconcern
Point of Reflection: What am I concerned with? Today’s readings demonstrate the disastrous effects of unconcern. Amos blames the Israelite elite and their lack of concern for bringing disaster upon the nation. Paul calls Timothy to be very serious about his role as a leader concerned with the salvation of the members of the community. Jesus tells a powerful story of the reversed fates of the rich man and Lazarus to show that lack of concern for others in this life will lead to eternal isolation and suffering in the life to come.
Those who show no mercy in the present will experience no mercy in the future.
In the end, today’s readings confirm the words of the Psalmist that the Lord God, “executes justice for the oppressed; gives food to the hungry”.
First Reading: Amos 6:1, 4–7
Psalm: Psalm 146:7–10
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11–16
Gospel: Luke 16:19–31
Sermon (Reflection): Amos in the first reading gives a critique of the wealthy leaders and aristocrats contained in the last’s Sunday reading rises to an even higher level today. The prophet begins his oracle with the Hebrew word which should be translated as “woe”. Today in our countries, are we not saying woe to our leaders? The decisions and governance of our leaders has become a ‘woe’.
Using the images, the prophet shows the leaders as hedonistic characters who seize what the ordinary people need for livelihood, and what rightfully belongs to God, for their pleasure and entertainment. They showed an utter lack of concern for God and for the nation they were meant to lead. Their feasting was a mockery of the ordinary people and showed disregard for God. While their nation was collapsing politically and socially they entertained themselves instead of “grieving over the ruin of Joseph”, that is the approaching destruction of the Kingdom of Israel.
Amos declares that their self-indulgent and unconcerned lifestyle would bring “woe” upon them. This could be our situation today in our country and the societies we live in.
The question is, what are concerned with? Is it not wealth, power or God? The story of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel of today exemplifies Luke’s concern with the right use of wealth. The story in today’s Gospel features a rich man who, like the wealthy Israelite leaders in the first reading, lives a life of luxury and feasting. His purple clothing and fine linen suggest a royal figure, a leader. The second main character, Lazarus, is a beggar living on scraps from the rich man’s table. Lazarus is also a religious outcast because he comes into contact with dogs, which makes him unclean. These two men have only one thing in common – they both belong to the people of Israel and have Abraham as their father.
All members of the Israelite community were obliged to show concern for the poor and underprivileged as was stipulated in the law of Moses (Cf. Deut 15:7-9). Thus, the rich man by his indifference to the fate of Lazarus fails in his obligations to care for a fellow member of the same community, he violates the Law of Moses.
Both men die and a dramatic reversal of fortunes takes place. Lazarus, whose name means “my God helps”, is taken to heaven to join the father of the nation, Abraham. In contrast, the rich man goes to the place of eternal torment – Hades, where he is alone and isolated. His failure to show concern for his neighbour while enjoying a privileged life on earth led to an eternity of suffering and isolation.
Shockingly, even after death the rich man neither realises nor admits the error of his ways. He continues to be arrogant and utterly self-concerned, treating Lazarus as his servant and messenger. He requests Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him water, and, later, as a messenger to his brothers. Both requests are refused. The rich man remained utterly unconcerned about Lazarus during his time on earth. This prevents him from receiving care in the afterlife. His punishment came because he ignored God’s commands to care for others as revealed in the Law and the Prophets. Ignoring these precepts, the rich man also showed a lack of care for his own long-term future.
His self-indulgent and earth-centred approach manifested through his lack of care for Lazarus bore fruit in eternal suffering.
The rich man was entrusted with wealth and used it only for enjoyment and self-satisfaction in the present life. By his selfishness and self-centeredness, he isolated himself from his fellow human beings. Are we not selfish? As Christian we need to help others with the little we have. God loves a cheerful giver.
The second reading of today addresses Timothy as a close companion of Paul in charge of the Christian community in Ephesus. Paul wrote to Timothy with instructions and admonitions on how he should exercise his leadership. Therefore, he begins with the phrase “but as for you”, indicating that Timothy’s lifestyle must be entirely different. Paul follows with a list of seven qualities that exemplify a true Christian leader: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness, and perseverance, described as “fighting the good fight of the faith”.
Paul highlights the great importance of these virtues by solemnly charging Timothy, in the presence of God and Jesus with “keeping the commandment” until the return of Jesus. This means that Timothy must persevere in the practice of those virtues and, as a leader, help others to reach the goal of their faith – eternal life in the presence of the Most High God. A true leader shows consistent dedication and concern for his community. Greed and self-interest destroy this commitment. Paul knew this and wanted to ensure that his companion would remain a concerned and dedicated leader until the end.
Christian Act in Word of God “What am I concerned with?”
In our countries, we have too numerous to list of examples from bad leaders who care only about their own interests to the ordinary people who indifferently walk by someone begging for food. The first lesson that comes from our readings is to remember that even amid those discouraging and even frightening situations, unkindness, evil and indifference do not rule the world.
Biblical texts emphasise that God does not give up on the world, no matter how bad it becomes, and will not allow evil and indifference to carry the day. Even though, as it was in the time of the prophet Amos, the world may be governed by many leaders unconcerned for that very world, this world is not yet in its final shape. There is always a future and, as the Gospel of today assures us, that future rests in God’s hands.
As Christians, let us put our trust in the Lord. The Lord does not disappoint but human beings disappoint.
Nowadays, we are concerned about ecology, the environment and our planet, in general, has become mandatory for all. We are used to thinking that such big issues are not really our concern, that we cannot do anything about the planet and the environment. After all, it is big companies which pollute the seas and rivers, who cut down the forests. While this is true, certainly our actions also make an impact. What we do with our garbage and refuse, the way we heat our homes and use electricity, whether we recycle or not, are just some examples of showing concern.
Like in the story of Lazarus, our lack of concern for our environment will eventually come back to harm us.
Through our concern for the well-being of others, we bring God’s care into this world and change it. In many ways, being an unconcerned person is no option for anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian. As Christian, we need to be concerned of each other and the environment.
Action: From now on, I will be concerned with the well-being of others, and removes the barriers of selfishness and fear that prevent me from doing so
Prayer: O Lord our God, we thank you today for not leaving us alone with our needs and troubles in this world. Make us feel your presence and open our eyes to see your care, so that we may live with a sense of constant gratitude for your blessings and help others with the little we have, we ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
- Jesus Christ is the Living Water: 3rd Sunday of Lent - March 6, 2026
- Listen to the Will of God: 2nd Sunday of Lent - February 27, 2026
- Life-Giving Obedience: First Sunday Of Lent - February 20, 2026
