Daily Word Of God
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 lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores.
Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. 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 bosom. 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.”
“My son”, Abraham replied, “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. 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 stop anyone, if he wanted to crossing from our side to yours and to stop any crossing 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 this Gospel reading, the rich man’s punishment is not for having riches but for his sin of omission, for not doing good to reach out to the needs of Lazarus, the poor beggar.
- When God has blessed us with wealth in this life, we are to be responsible stewards of it, especially for the care of the poor and needy. When we face God at the gates of heaven, He will ask, “Have you shared your blessings and wealth with others who are in need?”
- When we give or share our blessings with others who are in need, we are to do so out of love for God; not selfishly to assuage our guilt.