The Second Thursday of Lent

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.

Although the rich man ends up in torment, it is not because of his wealth, but because of what he did and didn’t do with his riches. He spent his wealth on purple garments and fine linens, which would have showed off his worldly wealth and on sumptuous and wasteful meals. This lifestyle of excess and dependence upon money is contrary to the Christian life. As Christians, we are called to share our wealth with others through almsgiving and acts of charity. When we fail to do this, either through greed or worldly excuses, then we fail to fulfill our calling to be Christ-like. At the same time, Lazarus didn’t go to the bosom of Abraham because he was poor. He went there because he suffered without complaint and in a spirit of gladness. We might ask how anyone could be glad is such a state, but when our hearts are right with God we are more than willing to suffer for His glory and for the service of His children. So no matter what our economic situation, we should make sure our spirit is right with God and focused not on our wills and the things of the world, but on God’s Will and the things of Heaven.

If we are rich, then how can we cultivate a humble spirit of almsgiving and charity? If we are poor, then how can we nourish our spirits so that we trust in God’s Providence and do not despair in our times of trial? What are we doing today to make ourselves right with God?

O Lord, help us live our lives in spiritual poverty so that one day we will be carried to Heaven by your angels.

Amen.

Sixteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.

When Jesus speaks of rich and poor in these terms, he is not talking about the monetarily wealthy, but rather the spiritually wealthy. He tells us that those who are rich in faith, hope, and love will continue to prosper, while those poor in these virtues will have everything taken away from them. He also goes further by saying those who understand his parables are blessed because when they hear the gospel message they are converted and healed. Those who do not listen to the good news or understand it will be spiritually blind and deaf. They will have no point of reference in regards to what God wants them to do in their lives. Jesus emphasizes the importance of opening our eyes and ears to his teachings and as long as we continue to do so we will grow in faith, hope, and love.

Do we keep our eyes and ears open to the messages God is trying to impart to us through our lives? Do we listen to and try to understand God’s Will so that we can better fulfill it? How can we cultivate our faith, hope, and love so that we can become spiritually rich?

O Lord, help us to grow rich in your gospel message.

Amen.