March 20th

By: Brian Trueman

OPENING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, send forth your Holy Spirit to guide us to your Son during this journey of Lent, so that He may quench our thirsting souls with the great love which was poured out from the cross at Calvary. We ask this as your sons and daughters, through Jesus, with Mary. Amen.

READING

Gospel Reading : Luke 16:19-31

Jesus told this parable to those among the Pharisees who loved money:  ‘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. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’

REFLECTION

The season of Lent offers the Church a time of reflection and conversion. It is a time to reflect on our call to saintliness and to purify that which hinders this call.

The Gospel passage today allows us to reflect on the gift of our material goods, but Jesus is also challenging us in the way we view them. Jesus’ parable in chapter 16 can be seen as the illustration of His teachings from chapter 6 with the Beatitudes.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Lazarus was hungry and poor while he was alive, but was welcomed into the company of God. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.” The rich man was overly comfortable and unwilling to share his gifts, but ended up with an unquenchable thirst. He tried to fill himself with all the comforts he could afford, but in the end he could never be satisfied.

Very often we can become like the rich man, possessed by created things, and forgetful of the fact that all we have comes from God. Our desire for material goods does not give us true joy, and can even bring about a spiritual dryness. This spiritual awareness is meant to point us to God, who is the source of living water. Christ, the suffering servant, is found in all who bear the pains of neglect, abuse, and forsakenness. By seeking to ease the sufferings of others we will find that Christ is, at the same time, nourishing us.

MEDITATION

Use these questions to help reflect on the Gospel and its meaning in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you.

•  Do I seek God’s kingdom first, or am I too comfortable with my current worldly attachments?
•  Is there a “Lazarus”, hungering for love, who is waiting outside the barriers of my life?
•  Do I have concrete ways to live out the call for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?
•  Does my life encourage conversion in other peoples’ lives?
•  Thank God for all the ways which you have been blessed in life. Think of your faith, hope, love, family, culture, freedom, health, education, wealth, and security. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for practical ways of sharing your gifts with others.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father of love, source of all blessings, help me to pass from my old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare me for the glory of Your Kingdom. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

 

AMEN