March 5, 2015 Thursday: 2nd Week of Lent
A Lenten Pilgrimage
March 5, 2015 Thursday: 2nd Week of Lent
Jesus said to the Pharisees, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. (Luke 16:19-31)
In the national news, it featured a businessman in Midwest, USA, who had anonymously given away more than $600 million to universities, medical centers, charitable institutions and other beneficiaries for more than fifteen years. When on account of some legal proceedings his identity was known, a friend described him as a man who does not even own a house or a car, flies economy class and wears a $15 wristwatch. He explained his generosity in plain words by saying: “I decided I had enough money and I thought it best to share it for the good of many who could not benefit from it. Anyway when we die, we cannot bring anything to heaven.” He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. This is contrary to the rich man in today’s gospel whose concern is his fine clothes and feasts everyday.
Today’s gospel parable of Lazarus and the rich man Jesus paints a dramatic scene of contrasts: riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and indifference, inclusion and exclusion. We also see an abrupt and dramatic reversal of fortune. Lazarus which means, ‘God is my help,’ was not only poor, but also incapacitated because he was brought at the gates of the rich man’s house. The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed.
At the end of their lives Lazarus was in the bosom of Abraham, not because he was poor and incapacitated, but because he did not lose hope in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven.
While the rich man when he died was in torment in the netherworld, why? He was in torment because, like many of us, he did nothing so that the life of Lazarus will become better; he did nothing about the rights of the poor and did not extend help to them; he was in apathy and indifference. He failed to see beyond self and earthly existence. He did not take wealth as God’s gift and that its true value is not in keeping it for self alone but in using it for the benefit of others. He could not see beyond his material treasure. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things.
(Fr. JS Benitez, https://justmehomely.wordpress.com/)
March 5, 2015 Thursday: 2nd Week of Lent
Jesus said to the Pharisees, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. (Luke 16:19-31)
In the national news, it featured a businessman in Midwest, USA, who had anonymously given away more than $600 million to universities, medical centers, charitable institutions and other beneficiaries for more than fifteen years. When on account of some legal proceedings his identity was known, a friend described him as a man who does not even own a house or a car, flies economy class and wears a $15 wristwatch. He explained his generosity in plain words by saying: “I decided I had enough money and I thought it best to share it for the good of many who could not benefit from it. Anyway when we die, we cannot bring anything to heaven.” He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. This is contrary to the rich man in today’s gospel whose concern is his fine clothes and feasts everyday.
Today’s gospel parable of Lazarus and the rich man Jesus paints a dramatic scene of contrasts: riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and indifference, inclusion and exclusion. We also see an abrupt and dramatic reversal of fortune. Lazarus which means, ‘God is my help,’ was not only poor, but also incapacitated because he was brought at the gates of the rich man’s house. The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed.
At the end of their lives Lazarus was in the bosom of Abraham, not because he was poor and incapacitated, but because he did not lose hope in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven.
While the rich man when he died was in torment in the netherworld, why? He was in torment because, like many of us, he did nothing so that the life of Lazarus will become better; he did nothing about the rights of the poor and did not extend help to them; he was in apathy and indifference. He failed to see beyond self and earthly existence. He did not take wealth as God’s gift and that its true value is not in keeping it for self alone but in using it for the benefit of others. He could not see beyond his material treasure. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things.
(Fr. JS Benitez, https://justmehomely.wordpress.com/)
