THEME: THE SIN AGAINST LAZARUS IN GHANA TODAY
READINGS: Amos 6:1,4-7/ 1 Timothy 6:11-16/ Luke 16:19–31
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Introduction
Beloved in Christ,
Reflecting on today’s readings in the context of governance in Ghana in the past two decades, I observe that the sin against Lazarus in Jesus’ parable is being committed in our nation.
1. Warning of Amos as a Key to the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus
In today’s first reading, the prophet Amos warned the wealthy leaders of the Northern Kingdom of Israel about their complacency and negligence:
“Woe to the complacent in Zion!…
Lying upon beds of ivory ….
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph [Israel]!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile” (Amos 6:1,4-7).
At their own peril, the leaders ignored the message of the prophet and persecuted him. Their nation was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722/721BC.
In the light of this first reading, today’s gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus is not just a warning to the wealthy who see suffering every day and yet do nothing. It is also a warning to nations, governments, institutions, and churches that act in like manner.
Therefore, in our context, this parable invites us to ask:
Who is Lazarus in Ghana?
And what is our nation doing—or failing to do—in response?
2. Who Is Lazarus in Ghana Today?
In the parable, Lazarus lies at the gate—sick, hungry, and ignored—while the rich man feasts daily. When they both die, justice comes. The rich man, who once lived in comfort, now suffers in torment. And Lazarus, once despised and forgotten, is comforted in the bosom of Abraham.
Lazarus today is not just an individual. He is a symbol of the oppressed, the abandoned, the voiceless in our society. In Ghana, Lazarus lies at the gate of national governance, crying out in many forms:
- The unemployed graduate roaming the streets.
- The market woman who cannot afford basic health care.
- The child in a village whose classroom is a crumbling shed
- The street and trafficked children
- The youth who are disillusioned because of injustice and corruption
- The elderly who are forgotten after serving this nation
- The voiceless and helpless environment
- Etc.
Today, I want to highlight a festering sore of Lazarus that we must not ignore any longer: the environmental destruction caused by illegal and irresponsible mining—galamsey.
3. Galamsey: A Festering Wound on Lazarus’ Body
Galamsey has become one of the greatest ecological, moral and spiritual crises in our country.
- Rivers once full of life— Ankobra, Ayensu, Birim, Offin, Pra, etc. —are now poisoned with mercury and sludge
- Forests once filled with beauty and biodiversity are now wastelands of death
- Children in mining areas are being born with deformities or into environments that are unsafe to live in
- Farmers are losing their lands. Fishermen cannot fish
- Many farm produce and fishes are unsafe for consumption
- Etc.
Who suffers most from this? Lazarus does.
The poor drink the polluted water.
The poor farm the contaminated soil.
The poor fall sick and die, while the rich and powerful—both local and foreign—feast on the proceeds of destruction.
This is a national sin against Lazarus.
It is not just a policy failure; it is a moral collapse.
And make no mistake: God sees!
4. The Rich Man’s Sin: Not Seeing, Not Caring
The rich man in the parable was not condemned because he was rich, but because he saw Lazarus every day and did nothing.
In Ghana today, government leaders see the environmental crisis. They read the reports. They take the tours. They make press statements. They pretend they are taking remedial actions; yet, the destruction continues.
The question must be asked:
- Why is it so hard to stop this evil?
- Who is benefiting?
- Why do laws exist only on paper and not in action?
We are becoming like the rich man—feasting while Lazarus dies at the gate of polluted rivers and poisoned soil.
5. Leadership is Stewardship, not Exploitation
St. Paul tells St. Timothy in our second reading to “pursue righteousness, godliness, …, love … and … Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim 6:11–12).
This is the true calling of leadership.
- Leaders are not elected to exploit national resources for personal gain.
- They are entrusted to protect the common good, defend the weak, and preserve creation for future generations.
We need a new kind of leadership—one that fears God, loves justice, and values people over profit.
And we, the Church, must raise our voices—not only in prayer, but in prophetic action. Like the prophet Amos, we must continue to call on the government to stop galamsey. And we must not relent until we see the government take sustained courageous policy changes and enforcement, with tangible positive outcomes for the land God has given us.
As the conscience of the nation, let the leadership of Church boycott all government or political functions, as long as the wounds of Lazarus are festering.
Conclusion
The rich man begged Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. But the answer was clear: They have Moses and the prophets.
In our case, we have the Bible, Church leaders, Constitution, cries of the poor, poisoned rivers, degraded land, etc. What more do we need before we act?
Let us not wait for judgment. Let us act now.
Let us heal Lazarus.
Let us protect the land, its waters and forests.
Let us govern with justice.
Let us fear the God who will one day ask us all: What did you do with Lazarus at your gate?
Prayer
Lord, forgive us for the sin of complicity or indifference.
Forgive our leaders for the sin of complacency and corruption.
Forgive our nation for destroying the land You gave us.
Open our eyes to see Lazarus.
Give us courage to speak, to act, and to lead with justice.
And may we never forget: in caring for Lazarus, we are serving You.
Amen.
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis