We are Blessed To Be A Blessing

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

September 30, 2025

in Spritual Growth

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September 28, 2025:
Readings: Amos 6:1-7
1 Timothy 6:11-19
Luke 16:19-31

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025 Homily – Abp. Hines

The compassion of God through His Son expresses to us His love. We claim we know Him but in reality, we do things our own way and many times we fail. God has already given us life, a life that is so powerful. In any family, parents may try to do everything possible to give their best to their children, but if the children refuse to follow what their parents say and still do their own thing, they are not going to prosper. Amos 6:1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! 1 Timothy 6:8-10 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We are seeing this today. Men who are greedy and wanting more and more for themselves. The Gospel today is a warning. God is speaking to us about consequences. Scriptures tell us that when the time was full, God sent His Son to be born of a woman, becoming flesh to redeem mankind. And when He ascended into heaven, He took us with Him, seated us in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers. God, who has all authority and power, gave us the same authority. We are ambassadors, the hand of mercy and grace.

Today’s Gospel deals with a rich man who wore purple clothing, lived in a mansion and ate the best food. Then there’s the poor beggar named Lazarus, who was stricken with an illness with sores on his body. He awaited by the gate of the rich man daily who never bothered to share food with the poor man except for crumbs that were thrown on the floor. Even the dogs came to lick the wounds of the poor man. It tells us further that when Lazarus died, the angels came and carried him to the bosom of Abraham. Eventually, the rich man also died and was buried. He, unlike Lazarus who had a name, was not identified. He went to Hades and was tormented. Then he looked up and saw Lazarus who was now living in comfort in the bosom of Abraham. He cries out to Abraham for mercy and to send Lazarus to dip his finger with water to cool his tongue, but Abraham’s response was, “In life you enjoyed all the good things but never shared with Lazarus, and now Lazarus who had been deprived of good things is now enjoying the comforts of this place. Besides, between here and where you are, there is a great gulf that separates us that no one can cross over to. The rich man then begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his other surviving brothers and warned them so that they would not have to come to the place of torment. Abraham said, “they have Moses and the prophets to listen to.” Luke 13:28 There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

God is teaching us that there will be consequences to one who does not follow in His ways. We have been blessed by God so that we are to put these blessings into good use. We may not be as wealthy as the rich man, but whatever we have and are blessed with, we are to give and care for others. It is our responsibility as stewards of God.