Hello Parish Family,

This Sunday we celebrate the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel reading this weekend Jesus tells the Pharisees about "a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table." In this parable, both men die. The poor man gets carried away by angels, while the rich man is buried and receives torment in the netherworld. We hear about how even in the afterlife, the rich man still speaks of the poor man as a servant who is supposed to do his bidding. In this teaching, Jesus helps us to see that the things of this world do not last forever and focusing on these things can lead to a lack of concern for others. But God's love lasts for eternity. Let us contemplate God's love for us and in turn how we are called to love others and act with compassion towards those who are poor and suffering.

Peace be with you!