Lk 16: 19-31
“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.’”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Entrusted to God’s Mercy
Jesus seems to muddy the waters of who is saved and who is not in today’s reading. His audience would have taken for granted that anyone who is wealthy enjoys the favor of God. However, Jesus’ parable suggests that it is the humiliated and despised who enjoy the favor of God. Lazarus does nothing to merit salvation, perhaps apart from being completely helpless. He never speaks nor acts. The unnamed rich man, on the other hand, speaks and acts but does so always seeking to satisfy his personal desires.
Perhaps the best thing we can do to bring ourselves a little closer to salvation today is to recognize our wounds (sores of Lazarus) and how they are aggravated by circumstances (dogs licking them), so as to more completely entrust ourselves to God’s mercy.
—Fr. Juan Ruiz, SJ, was ordained a priest this summer and is currently serving at Gesú Catholic Church in Miami. He is a member of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province.
Prayer
In the Hands of God
More than ever, I find myself in the hands of God.
This is what I have wanted all my life from my youth.
But now there is a difference;
the initiative is entirely with God.
It is indeed a profound spiritual experience
to know and feel myself so totally in God’s hands.
—Pedro Arrupe, SJ