26 Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Gospel challenges us not only to see the suffering around us but to judge rightly what it means and to act with compassion. The rich man saw Lazarus but failed to recognize his need or respond, missing the mark of love. Like a skilled archer, we are called to see clearly, judge wisely, and act courageously, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Listen to homily here:
Whenever the Olympics are on, one of the events I like to watch is archery. I don’t know if some of you have seen this—these archers are incredible. I once saw a video where an archer aimed for the bull’s-eye, but there was already an arrow stuck right in the center. This archer had such incredible precision that his shot split the first arrow in half, lodging his own arrow perfectly in the same spot. The skill and focus of professional archers are remarkable.
Now, I contrast this with myself as a kid. I would try to make a bow and arrow, aim at the bull’s-eye, and end up sending the arrow twelve feet off to the right. Everyone had to stand clear, because I had no idea what I was doing!
Today in the Gospel, Jesus speaks to us about having this kind of clear sight—this clarity of aim and vision. In the Church, when we speak about sin, we often describe it as a break in our relationship with God and neighbor. But in the New Testament, the Greek word used is hamartia. It’s actually a technical term borrowed from archery and javelin-throwing. Hamartia literally means “to miss the mark.” So when we sin, we miss the mark of what God calls us to.
Jesus, in today’s Gospel parable, warns us about missing the mark—especially in recognizing the people in need all around us. Within our Catholic tradition, we have a way of thinking about moral action: see, judge, act. These three steps help us reflect on the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, and they connect beautifully with the image of an archer.
A skilled archer first sees clearly. They know exactly where the bull’s-eye is. But they also need to judge: to measure distance, to account for the wind, to evaluate all the surrounding factors. Finally, they must act—drawing and releasing the bow in just the right way to hit the target. They see, judge, and act.
The rich man in the Gospel fell short in judgment. Notice something interesting: he actually saw Lazarus. He even knew him by name—later, from Hades, he asks for Lazarus. So the problem wasn’t in seeing; it was in judging. He failed to recognize Lazarus’s need. He failed to realize that he could do something to help him.
We, too, are challenged by Jesus to judge rightly, to make judgments rooted in the Gospel. We see people every day—family members, classmates, parishioners, colleagues, friends. But do we truly recognize what’s happening in their lives—their struggles, their loneliness, their pain? Or, like the rich man, do we sometimes look without understanding?
Mother Teresa was known for her remarkable gift of judgment. People said that when she entered a room, she could immediately recognize who was suffering the most. Sometimes it was physical poverty, sometimes sickness, sometimes deep loneliness. She not only saw people but discerned their pain and responded with love.
That is what Jesus asks of us: to see our surroundings clearly, to judge them in light of the Gospel, and then to act. And here again the rich man failed—he never acted to help Lazarus, even when Lazarus longed just to eat the scraps from his table.
Taking action is not always easy. The suffering in our world—whether close to home in New Westminster or across the globe—can feel overwhelming. Yet the Church calls us to discern, to pray, and to take steps, even small ones, toward helping those in need.
Here in our parish, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul does incredible work serving the poor locally. Their envelopes are available, and they are always connected with the needs of our neighbors. On a broader scale, the Canadian bishops sponsor Development and Peace, which works with partners worldwide—meeting immediate needs but also striving to create a more just world.
Seeing, judging, and acting are not abstract ideas. They are practical steps that flow from faith. And they require the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
So let us take inspiration from the Gospel and from the image of a good archer. May we see clearly, judge wisely, and act courageously. And may the Spirit open our eyes to the suffering around us and guide us to take steps—big or small—to assist those in need.
