The prophet Amos is one of the first (8th century BC) prophets and stands as a precursor to some of the other great prophets of the same period, including Isaiah. He draws attention to questions on social justice, especially focused on the abuse of the poor by the upper classes. Even in the face of impending disaster from the Syrian army massing on their border, the well-to-do seemed to pay no heed to the call to conversion and a return to the practice of justice as mandated in the Mosaic Law. Instead, they continued to revel in their own wealth, paying no attention to the plight of the poor in their midst. Not long after this prophecy the cities were leveled and the people sent into exile.

In a dramatic, yet predicted turn of events, those who touted their wealth become exiles struggling for survival.

Their plight is not unique to history. We know the impact of dramatic economic downturns; of the effects of revolutions, of natural disasters, and the horrors of war and terrorism. For any one of us and with little warning, life can change in a moment.

This apathetic attitude left them oblivious to the signs of the times in which they lived. The ancient Israelites believed, erroneously, that disaster would never befall them.

The same is true with the rich man in the parable. While we do not know the name of this rich man, Jesus gives a name to the poor man: Lazarus. He is well-known to this rich man, not some distant poor beggar. He sat near the table of the rich man, hoping for a morsel of bread. The man’s dogs licked at the sores on Lazarus’ diseased body. Every day the rich man was confronted by the sight of Lazarus, and every day he treated him as a subhuman.

Once again, Jesus upends what we know the world to demonstrate, even in subtle ways, what is important in the Kingdom of God.

St. Paul offers us the virtues, contrary to the values of the world, which ought to govern the life of the Christian: “integrity, piety, love, steadfastness, and a gentle spirit.”

These are the core virtues that the prophets like Amos tried to inspire in the people of their times. Paul writes more eloquently and theoretically, perhaps, while the prophets and even Jesus get more specific and poignant in extolling those virtues.

To the extent that the ancient people would have identified these virtues, they limited their application in interesting ways. The people at the time of Amos were content to treat their contemporaries well, while demeaning the poor and downtrodden as not worthy of their attention.

Jesus goes to great lengths in his teaching to demonstrate that the poor and outcast have dignity as human persons, and that class distinction or presumed moral status does not nullify their humanity.

As we look at the social struggles of our own time, we must not allow ourselves to fall into either the nameless complacency found among the ancient Israelites, or the blindness of apathy to the suffering of the poor, disenfranchised, or those seeking to better their lot in life. While their names may be unknown to us, many sit at our doorsteps seeking shelter and the dignity of basic humanity.

We must avoid the pitfalls that come with complacency to the plight of the poor. It costs the people of Israel everything they had. It cost the rich man in the parable eternal life. Those stakes are too high.

Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel