Option for the Poor

September 28, 2007

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He came to us, sent by our heavenly Father, to redeem the world from sin, death and the power of Satan, to reconcile us with the Father and to teach us the path to the fullness of life. Our Lord's parables are particularly important stories that teach critical truths about this "way" which leads to peace and happiness.

Today's Gospel parable about the rich man and Lazarus is a handcrafted story which enables Christ to teach with precision that each of His disciples must have a special place in his heart for the poor.

Christ describes Lazarus as a poor man, covered with sores and desiring to eat the scraps from the rich man's table. As if that description was not enough to encourage compassion in the heart of His disciples, He adds that dogs even used to come and lick his sores. Jesus is revealing His heart. He sees the pain and anguish of the poor and the sick, and it stirs His emotions.

The rich man dresses well and dines sumptuously. The evil is that he does not see poor Lazarus lying at his door. His failure to see or do anything about this poor man is the only reason given in the passage for his existence after his death in "the netherworld, where he was in torment." It was obviously a determining factor in how he was judged upon his exit from this world.

Jesus gives a hint at the solution when He describes the rich man's interaction with Abraham, in whose bosom Lazarus rests upon his death. Abraham reprimands the rich man: "Remember that you received what was good during your lifetime." His blessings on earth were a gift from God. He received them. Sure, he may have been clever, hard working and industrious, but those gifts came from God as well. His success in business and life came from God, but he failed to recognize those gifts and to realize that he was supposed to share his gifts with the poor, the sick and the not-so-clever of this world. He sinned by failing to thank God for his gifts and failing to share his gifts with others.

I had a recent experience which made this truth of our Christian faith real and tangible. I met with a friend a couple of weeks ago to have a serious conversation about some recent trials in his life. We were sitting outside of an ice cream shop when a homeless man approached us to engage in conversation and ask for some assistance. I was impressed when my friend took him into a nearby sub shop and bought him dinner. He interrupted his own conversation with me and attended to this man's needs for companionship and food. It warmed my heart.

My friend reminded me that to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to have an option for the poor, the sick and the starving of this world. Today's parable makes it painfully obvious that this is a non-negotiable aspect of the "way." If we plow through life so concerned about our own needs and hurts that we cannot see or attend to the suffering of our neighbor, we are not His disciples, we will not experience "life" on this earth, and we will not be among those who have embraced the full truth of the Gospel. Jesus says that if we fail to see the Lazarus around us and do something to alleviate his suffering, we will not be happy come judgment day.

On the contrary, as we come to know and love Jesus as our Savior and our brother, we will begin to love those whom He loves, see what He sees and take care of those who are hurting around us. Lord, grant me a heart for the poor, the sick and the hungry.

Work of God

Year C

- 26th Sunday in Ordinary time

Son, remember that you received good things in your lifetime.

Luke 16:19-31

19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,
21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell.
23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:
24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that you received good things in your lifetime, while Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted; and you are tormented.
26 And besides all this, between you, and us there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from here to there, cannot, nor from there to here.
27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech you, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,
28 That he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.
29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

26th Sunday in Ordinary time - Son, remember that you received good things in your lifetime.

The first part of this story shows how someone is very rich and lives a life of luxury while another human being is extremely poor and has nothing to eat.

But what is it that I see in the world now? I see many people who have plenty to eat, who live their lives in comfort but who do nothing for the poor. Many rich don?t see the poor personally because they live in different parts of the cities. Many rich avoid being in contact with them altogether, so they think most people live like them and even though they know about the poor, they don?t care.

Charity, compassion, love, ?where are you? The more I give to men, the more they continue their injustice to the poor, oh, how they feel so secure while others are starving, how they close their eyes and pretend the poor don?t exist, how they invent new ways to oppress the lower classes.

But as in the story of the rich man and the poor Lazarus, the time will come when the poor will die, and the rich will die too, and they will find themselves in different dwellings. The rich will go to the poorest place and will be deprived of happiness and glory; they will suffer punishment for their injustices while the poor will go tho their heavenly mansion to enjoy eternal life. And there you will have my prophecy fulfilled that the first will be last and the last will be first.

There are many who have faith in God expecting to be rewarded with glory in the life to come but ignore the very requisites for their salvation: justice, charity and love.

He who is generous and gives to those in need will receive much from me, but he who practices avarice and injustice is condemning himself. The poor will always be in the world to give an opportunity to those who have more than them to be generous and to show their love. True love for your neighbour is the best proof that you love me. It is never too late to amend your lives and to begin a life full of charity.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

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