Thursday March 16
I like the rich man in today’s gospel, for he seems to have many admirable qualities. He is a generous person: How many rich people would allow a sore-covered, foul-smelling poor man, licked by dogs, to lie at the gate of their palatial houses? Moreover, after his death, when he sees Lazarus enjoying bliss while he suffers in hellfire, he does not get angry or jealous, but politely requests some help. He even knows Lazarus by name! How many rich people would know their poor neighbors by name? Further, even when burning in hellfire, he is thinking of saving his five living brothers from ending up where he is now! A truly remarkable man. Why did he then end up in hell?
Perhaps there is only one answer: When it comes to entry into the Kingdom, being simply good is not good enough. It is not enough that we avoid doing any harm; we must actively reach out and share our lives with the less fortunate. It is not enough to be concerned about the wellbeing of one’s own immediate family; any person in need must become like a member of our family, meriting our concern. In short, it is not enough to be posthumously good; we must be like Christ here on earth.
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The image of the rich feasting and enjoying despite the poor dying at his door is not just a story from a concrete and common case but is also a portrait of humanity yesterday and today. If we imagine the world as a banquet that the Creator has prepared for all, we see that some have a huge amount of goods while a large number are waiting outside the crumbs that fall from the table. The judgment of God changes positions. The Church must fight so that history will recognize all the children of God with the same dignity.