Homily of Archbishop Elias Frank at Thanksgiving Mass

 The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, Kolkata | 26 September 2025

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Word of God today offers us both a powerful warning and a tender invitation. It asks us simple but unsettling questions:

👉 Are we aware of the Lazarus who is sitting at our gate?
👉 Do we notice the suffering of others, or do we choose to look away?

1. The Prophet Amos: A Voice Against Complacency

In the first reading (Amos 6:1, 4-7), the prophet Amos speaks sharply against the leaders of Israel who were “lying on beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, eating choice lambs and calves,” while their nation was collapsing morally and spiritually.

Their sin was not wealth itself, but complacency. They enjoyed abundance but ignored the cries of the poor and the decline of their society. Amos warns that such blindness inevitably leads to ruin.

This warning of prophet Amos remains deeply relevant even today. We live in a world where it is easy to be absorbed in ourselves and forget others. We scroll past suffering, avoiding it because it makes us uncomfortable. And because we encounter suffering so often, we sometimes become desensitized – our hearts grow numb.

2. The Rich Man and Lazarus: A Call to Examine Ourselves

In the Gospel (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus continues the theme from last Sunday’s parable, which was about the dishonest steward. The steward cleverly plans for his future after being dismissed, and Jesus concludes by saying:

“The children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light… You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.” (Lk 16:8, 13)

Today’s Gospel presents us with a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen – garments, which only the very wealthy could afford. He feasts magnificently every day. His world revolves around himself: eating, drinking, and making merry.

At that time, many believed wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, while poverty was seen as a curse. Sadly, such attitudes are not confined to the past; they exist even today.

The rich man’s fault was not simply that he was wealthy, nor that he failed to give Lazarus food. His real sin was that he did not even see Lazarus. Lazarus was invisible to him.

There are “Lazaruses” in our parishes and families too. Sometimes children neglect their elderly parents. Priests, caught up in administration – often tasks that could be entrusted to lay people – may find little time to visit the sick or the lonely. The Gospel calls each of us to examine ourselves.

For the rich man, the realization of his wasted life came too late. He had become enslaved to his wealth. This pattern can be seen in other forms of enslavement too: addictions to alcohol, mobile phones, the thirst for power, etc. A time comes when these things begin to control our lives, and by then it may be too late to change course.

The Archdiocese of Calcutta is blessed with shining examples who did not ignore Lazarus at the gate: Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and many others. They not only welcome Lazarus – they make him the centre of their attention. They teach us to trust in God’s providence rather than in our wealth or in our inadequacy. I thank the Lord for the many generous people in this Archdiocese who do not turn away from the Lazarus at their gate.

I am reminded of an event that took place during my diaconate ministry in Howrah parish, we wanted to do something special with the parish youth on Christmas Day in 1992. We prepared food packets and went out to distribute them among people living on the footpaths.

I remember one man sleeping on the pavement. We gently woke him up and offered him a food packet. He looked at us, then at the packet, shook his head, and refused it. That scene remains etched in my memory as a profound lesson: never judge a person by appearances.

Poverty is not only the lack of food or shelter; often, it is also the lack of someone who listens and cares.

I appeal especially to my brother priests: let us identify the “Lazaruses” in our parishes, involve our parishioners, visit those in need, and spend time with them. Sometimes, a few moments of presence can speak more powerfully than any material help.

3. Paul to Timothy: Pursue Righteousness

In the second reading (1 Timothy 6:11-16), St. Paul speaks to Timothy like a spiritual father: “Man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.”

Paul reminds us that the Christian life is a battle, not against others, but against ourselves: against selfishness, against greed, against spiritual laziness... We are not called merely to avoid evil, but to actively pursue good.

And when we do good, something wonderful happens: we not only help Lazarus – we encounter Christ Himself.

Conclusion

Let us pray today for eyes that truly see and hearts that are ready to respond. May we not wait until it is too late, like the rich man in the parable.