Sunday, September 28, 2025

Dear brother and sisters,

Are We Wealthy Like the Rich Man?

Yes, by global standards, Americans are considered wealthy. Even though many of us are experiencing finan-cial hardship during this economic crisis and may struggle to make ends meet, the standard of living in the United States remains among the highest in the world. The average income of an American household is roughly 150 times greater than that of households in many less-developed countries. Most of us still have ac-cess to basic needs, such as housing, healthcare, education, and technology, and many enjoy comforts like regular shopping, hobbies, and property ownership.

But after hearing the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in this weekend’s Gospel, a deeper question arises: Should we be concerned about our final judgment?

Perhaps we should, especially if we live with the same greed, selfishness, ignorance and spiritual blindness as the rich man in the parable. His sin was not merely that he was rich, but that he was unmoved by the suffering of the poor man right at his doorstep. He focused entirely on his own comfort and pleasure and totally ignored the needs of others. He loved himself but failed to love God and his neighbors. His wealth made him self-sufficient in the eyes of the world, but not in the eyes of God. Likewise, we often fall into the trap of blaming the busyness and burdens of daily life for neglecting our spiritual growth, religious practices, and acts of kind-ness. We allow the distractions of our own concerns to isolate us from others and lead to separation from God. In doing so, we forget to nurture our souls, strengthen our faith, and deepen our relationship with Him. We forget to feed the hungry, to care for the poor, and to support the outcast. We also forget to use our resources to care wisely for our own needs and share generously with those in need.

Finally, we should ask ourselves: What should we do after reflecting on the mistakes of the rich man?

First, we must remember that earthly wealth and social status are temporary, while spiritual matters carry per-petual value. This truth helps us keep Christ at the center as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It guides us to follow His teachings, obey His commandments, receive His grace in the Sacraments, and trust in His plan. Second, we are called to invest time, effort, and commitment in nurturing our soul, fulfilling our religious re-sponsibilities, practicing our faith, and caring for what God has entrusted to us. Surely this discipline brings balance to life and prepares us for lasting success. Finally, we are called to support one another as members of the same flock, follow instructions of the same Shepherd, and walk together to the same destination. There-fore, we should live with compassion, kindness, and awareness of the spiritual and moral realities that shape our journey both now and in eternity.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.