2nd Week of Lent, Thursday, March 20, 2025

Reflection on the WORD

Gratitude – Compassion” – Faith: In today’s Gospel, the rich man feastedwithout any compassionate carefor Lazarus; the beggar at his gate. When both died, the rich man paid the price for his greed, with eternal suffering. Lazarus, found himself in Paradise. Ponder on, “Do we have deep gratitude to God for His abundant Blessings? And do we share them with compassionate love?”

Luke 16:19-26

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there used to lie a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with what fell from the rich man's table. Even dogs came and licked his sores. 

Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham's embrace. The rich man also died and was buried. ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his embrace. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity 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.” 

Abraham said, “My son, remember that during your life you had your fill of good things, just as Lazarus his fill of bad. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to prevent those who want to cross from our side to yours or from your side to ours.”

Today's Pointers on God's Word

As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?

  • In today’s Gospel, the rich man was so preoccupied with all his wealth and seeking happiness in this world that he lost the sense of God and eternal life. 
  • Lazarus on the other hand, while he was incapacitated, poor and suffering did not lose hope in God.
  • We should pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance to see God’s blessings in our daily lives and His presence in giving us hope in our pains and challenges.  Speak to the Lord from your heart.