The question to us is: What are we doing for those to whom life has not been so kind? – What are we doing for the less fortunate?Īre we walking by the Lazaruses in our own community without seeing them as fellow human beings.Īre we quick to assume that the person begging at the street corner maybe a drug addict, or an alcoholic, perhaps a thief… or perhaps someone who is lazy or who has not worked hard enough? There is really nothing wrong with all of these… We surely have a right to all of these. We are fed, sheltered, supported by family and friends.
The truth is - the poor people actually teach us how to love.Ĭertainly - many of us are living in a world that has provided well for our needs. That person, that Lazarus at our gates, might be the means for our own salvation. The parable in today’s Gospel tells us to open our eyes and our hearts to be more aware of the people around us who need our help. Our actions need to truly reflect God's mercy. We say that God loves us and has mercy on us, but we hold grudges against our relatives and friends. We say that God is compassionate, but we ignore the poor. When people hear the word “Mercy”, they often think only in terms of forgiveness… but mercy means also compassion, to “suffer with”, compassion particularly towards those who are in need in one form or another… all around us… even within our own family. This was something the Pharisees did not understand – the loving merciful heart of God – how He feels about His people…. He was trying to help them find their way back to God. That’s the reason Jesus came, and that’s the reason he welcomed sinners and ate with them. In the Gospel we heard two Sundays ago, the Pharisees saw the people Jesus was eating with - only as tax collectors and sinners but God saw them as His children who had gotten lost and needed to be found. The Rich Man may have noticed Lazarus before but only as a stinky, beggar in dirty clothes begging for food. But you see – before - the Rich Man never saw Lazarus as a fellow human being. That’s something all of us need to ponder because there might be a poor man at our own doorsteps.įrom hell - the Rich Man raised his eyes and saw Lazarus. That’s the reason he ended up in torment. He was so spiritually blinded that he could not, would not even give a little attention to the needs of a poor man lying at his doorstep. No, it is because of his self-centered preoccupation with his own life and its pleasures. The rich man went to the netherworld not because he was rich. Last week’s Gospel ended with: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us what happens as a consequence of loving money, pleasures and comforts of this life more than loving God and our neighbor. The love of money is the root of all evil.” Finally one of his colleagues whispered, “Well, say something.” The leader looked at them and said, “I should have taken the money.” All heads turned toward the leader, who sat glowing in the aura of wisdom. “You got it!” said the angel, and disappeared. Without hesitation, the leader asked for infinite wisdom. The leader was asked to choose one of three blessings: either infinite wealth/money, or infinite fame or infinite wisdom. Homily on Mercy, Love and Compassion (based on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16: 19-31):Īn angel appeared at a gathering and told the leader of the group that he had come to reward the leader for his years of devoted service.