Great expectations

       The readings ( below ) from this mornings Liturgy of the Hours are quite indicting.  This is not a snippet of Scripture translated to support an agenda.  Here we have what we are expected to do and how to act. In the face of the exact same problems we have today, they were being admonished to serve, feed, share, love. 

       I read a piece of news today about a minister from Texas. Hearing about the caravan heading north to the United States and all the pre-election day hooplah and hysteria that ensued, this minister decided to find out for himself, head south to the caravan, meet up, greet, walk and discover. He discovered faithful people. Caring people. Generous people, a far cry from the hordes of mad dogs and villains portrayed by the President. I ask,  what if we were all so inclined to greet a caravan or something of similar ilk, how great a nation this would be? What a magnificent  tribute to God's love if we walked miles with another on their path, welcoming, sharing life, love, food. 

     The real kicker that is pointed out in Luke is that are expected to know what we are to do.  Especially if we are Christians, followers of The Way. Perhaps any human with a shred of common sense or empathy knows that this is how to act. This is basic stuff people, humanity 101.  We cannot feign ignorance. If you cannot see it with your own eyes, Scripture, old and new tells us so. What excuse have we?  Can we legitimately pick a snippet of Scripture that supports a contrary view? It appears from this Lukan passage that no excuses will be accepted.

          Tough reading, no escape. This is how we are called to act and treat our fellow humans.  What I find scary is what else are we expected to know?  How will we be held accountable? Yikes!

James 2:14-26

 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

 But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. 

Luke 16:19-31

 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’