DAILY GOSPEL AND REFLECTION, MARCH 20, 2014 ( THURSDAY) The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Lk 16:19-31 [Jesus said to the Pharisees,] 19“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 20And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who 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. 22When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And 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.’ 25Abraham 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. 26Moreover, 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.’ 27He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ 29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 30He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ †REFLECTION RICH MAN… POOR MAN. Death is the great equalizer. Enjoyment of life is a wisp in the wind. Whether one be rich like Dives (Latin for “rich manâ€) or poor like Lazarus, one eventually dies. But the emphasis of the parable is in the conversation in the afterlife. Lazarus is enjoying eternal bliss while Dives finds himself in the place of torment. Dives appeals to Abraham to send Lazarus for relief and for warning to his brothers. Abraham replies that crossing is impossible, and the brothers have Moses and the prophets. Jesus’ warning through this parable cannot be any clearer. One has to render an account of one’s life to God. The poor are there to give opportunities for the rich to use their wealth to help the poor, to improve their lot, and to give them a sense of human dignity. Though he speaks no lines in the parable, Lazarus has a special place in the heart of God.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:38:11 +0000
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