THURSDAY OF THE 2nd WEEK OF LENT

         

1.Jeremiah 17:5-10

Gospel: Lk 16:19-31

" The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus"

There is a story of a prominent businessman in Midwest, U.S.A, who had anonymously given away more than $ 600 million to universities, medical centers, charitable institutions and other beneficiaries for more than twenty years. When on account of some legal proceedings his identity was known, a friend described him as a man who does not even own a house or a car, flies economy class and wears a $15 wrist watch. He explained his generosity in plain words by saying: " I decided I had enough money and I thought it best to share for the good of many who could not benefit from it. Anyway when we die, we cannot bring anything to heaven." He is no fool who gives what he cannot bring anything to heaven." He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. This is contrary to the rich man in today's gospel whose concern is his fine clothes and feasts every day.

Today's gospel parable of Lazarus and the rich man Jesus paints a dramatic scene of contrasts: riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and indifference, inclusion and exclusion.  We also see  an abrupt and dramatic reversal of fortune. Lazarus which means, ' God is my help,' was not only poor, but also incapacitated because he was brought a the gates of the rich man's house. The dogs which licked his sores probably also stole the little bread he procured for himself. Bear in mind that dogs in the ancient world symbolized contempt. An act of enduring the torment of these savage dogs only added to the poor man's miseries and sufferings.

The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed, we have to note here that to be a rich person is not forbidden since all of us is what we strive for, however the underlying challenge of being rich is that how do we behave and respond when we become rich in terms of properties, money, talents, with regard to our poor brothers and sisters? Critically on the other side we are not encouraged at all to advocate poverty, but what is the challenge is that how do we respond once we find ourselves in poor situations, first and foremost we have to play our part before we ask or go for help.

The problem with the rich man is that he did not take wealth as God's gift and that its true value is not in keeping it for self alone but in using it for the benefit of others. He could not see beyond his material treasure. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things. He served wealth rather than God. In other words he committed the sin of omission. According to edition of  Catholic encyclopidia 1917, the sin of omission  is said to be the failure to do something one can and ought to do. It is not merely because a person here and now does nothing that he offends but because he neglects to act under circumstances in which he can and ought to act.

Thus the paradox of the Kingdom is that what we have in not our real treasure but what we give away. God is constantly inviting us to look into our hearts, to look beyond our selfish concerns in order to see the essentials in life. Can we afford to exchange eternity for some moment of pleasure? The choice is ours.