Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass Intentions is Fr Enda Keenan RIP
Reflection:
Sam and Jo went to the local supermarket to buy some food. As they walked past the Hot Deli section, two large pizzas were being sold buy one get one free. The couple bought the two large pizzas and went off delighted. As they were about to leave, they noticed Tom, a homeless man, sat outside begging for a few pennies. Jo took one of the pizzas and gave it to Tom. Tom’s face glowed, thanked the couple saying, “God bless you.”. Tom, for me, is the new Lazarus of our times. Like the Lazarus in today’s Gospel, Tom “received what was bad”. One could just imagine if Tom had already eaten before he got that pizza. One could just imagine other people such as those in modern slavery or abject poverty craving even from the scraps that fall from the tables of those who have plenty. The rich man in the Gospel does not seem to be an evil person, however he failed to do what was due for Lazarus. Had he shared his sumptuous food with Lazarus, the poor man would have uttered “God bless you” to him. Perhaps he would have been in the bosom of Abraham with Lazarus instead of being in flames. St John of the Cross once said “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
- How much have you loved?
- How can your Lent be a season of love for others?
- What prevents you from reaching out to the poor?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Open our eyes to the poverty and injustice around us. Transform our apathy to empathy so that we may reach out to those need and see You in them. Amen.
Suggested Lenten penance: Do something charitable for the homeless.
(Pietro)
