25th September 2016 

Dear Parishioners,

 Today’s first reading from the prophet Amos and the Gospel parable of Jesus are both concerned with the perennial gap between rich and poor, between those who are self-indulgent and those who are exploited. But the readings are also concerned with the terrible consequences of not being open to God’s word, which is always a word of mercy. The rich man, Dives, was obviously a believer. He was familiar with the scriptures, but the message had not entered his heart. He was as wounded by his riches as the poor man, Lazarus, was wounded by his poverty.
I’ve always liked Christy Kenneally’s poems, especially the following one, which is not unrelated to the theme of today’s readings........Read More