Have you heard of the term “affluenza”? It’s been defined as “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more” (Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic). Basically, the theory is that the need to consume and the desire to have more than others drive people who are financially well-off to a type of “sickness” where they don’t understand the consequences of their own actions due to their privilege. They may do illegal, immoral things that hurt others and simply be unaware of their wrongdoing. It’s even been used—successfully!—as a legal defense in serious cases.
This sounds like the rich man in today’s Gospel, doesn’t it? He lives sumptuously with wealth and privilege. He wastes so much food that the poor man, Lazarus, “would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table” (Lk 16:21). If he even notices Lazarus at his very door, hungry and full of sores, he does nothing to help him. He doesn’t understand the consequences of his actions until he is the defendant in a very serious case, indeed: the testimony of his life. Even in the fires of hell he seems painfully unaware of the lack of care he gave Lazarus on earth.
“If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?” 1 John 3:17
At the final judgment, “affluenza” will be no defense. Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. Those who cared for their poor brothers and sisters on earth will enter the kingdom, and those who did not will perish: “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt 25: 31-46). The cure for affluenza is humble service to others, especially to the poor, through the Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned (Matt 25: 35-36).
Lord Jesus, help me to see the poor around me and have compassion for them. Help me take a concrete action to show mercy to the poor sometime this week.
Readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
AMOS 6:1-7
PSALM 146:7-10
1 TIM 6:11-16
LUKE 16:19-31